NDMA was not involved in the drill: Centre on student's death in Coimbatore
New Delhi, July 13 (IBNS): The Centre on Friday condoled the death of a 19-year-old student who was forced to jump from the second floor of a college building by a man who represented himself as a disaster drill instructor.
The government said National Disaster Management Authority officials were not involved in the incident.
"It has come to the notice of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) through various media reports that a college girl, Kumari N. Logeswari, a student of Kovai Kalaimagal College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore, died during a disaster preparedness drill conducted by an individual, - Arumugham," read a statement issued by the Indian government.
"It is unfortunate that this incident has happened and we have lost a young life. The NDMA expresses heartfelt condolences to the family. However, the National Disaster Management Authority wasn't involved in this drill. The trainer wasn't authorized by NDMA to conduct such a drill. NDMA does not approve of such drills to be undertaken without adequate preparation and safety measures," it said.
Drill disaster:
Lokeshwari was a business student of Coimbatore's Kalai Magal Arts College where the disaster drill was conducted.
In a video, which was captured just moments before her death, Lokeshwari could be seen shrieking and screaming with fear.
The student fell down and her head hit a slab below.
The victim was initially denied any treatment by a private hospital, which later referred her case to a government hospital where the student died, reports said.
NMDA officials told NDTV that Arumugam, who forced Lokeshwari to jump from the building, is not a trained instructor.
The officials also said that Arumugam is neither a part of the institution nor is qualified enough to carry out drills.
Arumugam has been arrested and charged with causing death due to negligence by the police.
Witnesses said that the victim was unwilling to jump even though a small group of people, who were standing below promised to catch her.
A compensation of Rs. five lakh has been announced by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami to the aggrieved family of the girl.
Image: Video Grab
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