Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, August 20, 2026: A tragic incident at a private school in Visakhapatnam has raised serious concerns over child safety and the treatment of students in classrooms after a six-year-old student reportedly collapsed and died during school hours on Thursday.
The deceased student has been identified as Pranay Tej, a UKG/LKG student at Little Garden School in the One Town area of Visakhapatnam.
Family Alleges Teacher Hit Student Over Homework
According to the family, the child had not completed his homework after returning from a pilgrimage with his family on Wednesday.
The family has alleged that the teacher reprimanded the child, pulled his clothes and slapped him during the classroom incident. They claim that the child became frightened, collapsed and subsequently became unresponsive.
These allegations are part of the ongoing investigation and have not yet been conclusively established by authorities.
CCTV Footage Under Investigation
CCTV footage from the classroom has reportedly surfaced on social media and is being examined by the authorities.
The footage appears to show the child standing in a line while the teacher checks students’ homework. The child can reportedly be seen crying and attempting to move away before the teacher pulls him closer and allegedly slaps him.
Shortly afterwards, the child appears to become unresponsive and collapses.
Police have taken the CCTV footage into custody as part of their investigation.
School Staff Attempt CPR
Following the incident, school staff reportedly called other teachers and attempted to revive the child.
He was initially taken to a nearby hospital and was later shifted to King George Hospital (KGH). Doctors reportedly declared him brought dead.
Officials have indicated that the child may have suffered cardiac arrest following extreme fear or panic. However, the precise medical cause of death has not yet been established and is expected to be clarified by the postmortem report.
Family Protests, Police Begin Probe
Following the death, the child’s family and relatives reportedly protested outside KGH and the school, demanding strict action against the teacher and school management.
The One Town police have registered a case and begun investigating the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.
Officials are examining the CCTV footage and other available evidence. A revenue official, RDO Sadhu Dileep Chakravarthy, has also indicated that an inquiry will be conducted.
The district education authorities are separately looking into the matter.
Nara Lokesh Expresses Grief
Andhra Pradesh Education/HRD Minister Nara Lokesh expressed grief over the death of the young student and directed authorities to take action against the school management in accordance with the findings of the investigation.
The incident has also triggered renewed concerns among parents and student organisations over corporal punishment, classroom discipline and safety standards in private schools.
Postmortem Report Crucial To Establish Cause Of Death
While the family has alleged that fear and physical punishment preceded the child’s collapse, authorities have not yet established a direct medical link between the alleged classroom incident and the death.
The postmortem examination, CCTV footage, witness statements and police investigation will be crucial in determining what happened inside the classroom and the exact cause of the child’s death.
The investigation is currently underway, and further action against the teacher or school management will depend on the findings of the authorities.