The following is the Statement made by the Home Minister, Shri Shivraj Patil in the Rajya Sabha on the Fire Accident at a school in Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu:

There was a major fire accident on 16.7.2004 in an Aided Private School at Kasiraman Street, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District. This Aided private School houses Sri Krishna Girls High School, Saraswathi Nursery and Primary School. In the said incident 90 children have died and 19 children have sustained burn injuries.

The School has got only one narrow staircase leading from a common entrance which also serves as an exit. All the students have to use only this common entrance and the common staircase. No emergency exit or fire escape has been provided to the building. More than 870 students are studying in these three schools. The Sri Krishna Aided primary School is run in class rooms with thatched roof. There is a noon meal kitchen close by with thatched roof.

At about 11.10 hrs. on 16.7.2004, fire broke out accidently in the thatched class room atop the building. Before the students could get down from the class room, the thatched shed collapsed. The exact cause of the fire is being investigated. However, it is reported that the fire spread from the nearby noon-meal kitchen. When the thatched extension caught fire, all the children studying in the brick portion of the building in the front side rushed to the entrance, thereby the children in the thatched portion in the backside could not escape and this led to the fire tragedy.

The State Government has ordered the closure of the school immediately and cancellation of the permission given to run the school. Based on the above orders, the recognition of these schools has been withdrawn and alternative arrangements have been made to admit the children in the nearby schools. As on 18.07.2004, 740 uniforms have been supplied to the surviving children free of cost. The State government has also ordered immediate suspension of the Assistance Elementary Educational Officer, the District Elementary Educational Officer, the District Educational Officer and the Chief Education Officer for not inspecting the school premises and failing to ensure that the management conforms to the safety norms.

The Police have registered a case in Kumbakonam East Police Station Cr. No.261/2004 u/s 304, 338,285,188 and 109 of IPC read with Rule 3 of Primary Education Violations and Rule 5 of Municipal Administration Violation Act and the following accused have been arrested so far:-

1. Thiru Palanisamy, Manager of the School.
2. Tmt. Saraswathi, W/o – Thiru Palanisamy, Correspondent of the School
3. Tmt. Santhalakshmi, Head Mistress of the School
4. Tmt. Vijayalakshmi, Noon Meal Organizer
5. Tmt. Vasanthi, Noon Meal Centre Cook

19 injured students are undergoing treatment at Kumbakonam Government Hospital and Thanjavur Medical College Hospital. The State Government has reported that the best possible treatment has been made available to the surviving victims. Teams of Burn Specialists were rushed from Chennai and also from various other eminent hospitals all over the State to Kumbakonam to treat the surviving children. These Specialists are giving the best possible treatment to the children who suffered burn injuries. Two injured children who are in need of skin grafting and specialized care have been brought to Chennai for further treatment at Apollo Hospital by eminent Plastic Surgeons.

The Government of Tamil Nadu has ordered an intensive inspection of all schools throughout the State immediately to ascertain and ensure the maintenance of safety standards. The State Government have directed that thatched roofs wherever found in schools throughout the State will be removed immediately and replaced with non-inflammable materials.