New Delhi: Efforts by Modern School, Vasant Vihar, to clear the air over the death of Aakriti Bhatia, after an asthma attack in school, ended in an emotional faceoff on Thursday. There were protests as the girl’s classmates joined her parents in alleging medical negligence and demanded the principal’s resignation.
The principal admitted that no doctor was present in the school while the school nurse said nebulizers could not be administered as the girl could not identify the one she used. The school has ordered an internal inquiry, while the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights and Directorate of Education have asked the school to reply within three days on the girl’s death.
Chaos marked over four hours of the press conference called by the school authorities as angry parents and classmates took on the principal and trustee, blaming them for the death of the 17-year-old. Aakriti’s parents have charged the school with medical negligence, including failing to provide nebulizers and removing the oxygen mask as she was being taken to hospital.
Ashok Pratap Singh, trustee of the managing committee, started the proceedings, saying: ‘‘It’s my responsibility to look at what happened and how such recurrence can be reduced. This particular incident is very unfortunate and I accept the responsibility to go into the details.’’
The statement enraged Aakriti’s mother, Vani Bhatia, who stormed out of the auditorium. ‘‘I am not going to listen to this c***. We are here to find a solution so that no other child suffers and here he is going on with the glory of the school’s ethos and reputation. The school is least bothered about the death of its student,’’ she said, before family members persuaded her to return.
But things turned ugly as principal Goldy Malhotra entered the auditorium. Bhatia walked up to the principal and said, ‘‘Look into my eyes and tell me why you killed my daughter. Stop lying. Own up and resign. Or else, give back my daughter’s life.’’ Doc had retired two months ago: Principal
New Delhi: During a press conference on Thursday to clear the air on the death of class XII student Aakriti Bhatia, Modern School principal Goldy Malhotra argued that the school did have nebulizers. However, class XII students in the gallery stood up and shouted her down. ‘‘There were no nebulizers and there was no proper medical facilities,’’ they alleged.
Immediately Lily Kutty, the school nurse, brought in a box of nebulizers, saying the school was well stocked. Two of Aakriti’s classmates, one of whom had accompanied the girl to hospital, however, began contradicting the claims and broke down.
Faced with angry parents and students, Malhotra and Singh left the auditorium and met the media later in the principal’s room. Asked whether a doctor was present in the school on Monday morning, Malhotra said: ‘‘There was no doctor that day as the doctor we had retired a couple of months back.’’ On the oxygen mask, she said, ‘‘Aakriti herself was saying that she was feeling uncomfortable. Kutty then removed the oxygen (mask) as Aakriti began to feel better.’’
Kutty, meanwhile, fought off allegations of not administering the girl a nebulizer. ‘‘I asked her (Aakriti) which nebulizer she was using to which she replied that she didn’t know as she used to get it done at the hospital.’’
Meanwhile, several students of Class XII gathered outside the auditorium and shouted slogans, demanding Malhotra’s resignation. Another group outside the school, including students from other schools, distributed pamphlets, demanding ‘‘justice’’. Malhotra, however, tried to downplay the protests. Claims and Counter-claims School says...
Principal Goldy Malhotra claims Aakriti complained of breathless ness to her class teacher Hena Kampani at 10.20 am in between change of periods. She also called home from a friend’s phone
She was taken to sports room
The headmaster rushed to call nurse Lily Kutty
Kutty asked Aakriti if she had her puffs. Aakriti replied in affirmative
When her condition deteriorated, she was administered oxygen
Aakriti felt better and spoke to her mother from sports teacher A P Seth’s phone
The parents asked the school to send Aakriti to her maternal aunt’s home
At 10.55 am, on the way to the car, Kutty realised that Aakriti is not in a position to go home and should be shifted to the hospital
According to Kutty, Aakriti spoke to her mom from the driver’s phone in the car. After that Aakriti lost the grip of her hand
She collapsed in front of hospital at around 11.10 am and died Parents allege...
Vani Bhatia said her daughter called her at 10.09 am informing of her ill health
No one from the school got in touch with the parents
They removed the oxygen before shifting her to the car
Kutty apparently first refused to climb down to the sports room
No nebulisers in the medical room
There was no doctor in the school
The school didn’t call for an ambulance service which could have provided life saving first-aid and shifted Aakriti to the hospital faster

MODERN FURY: A student protests at Modern School, Vasant Vihar on Thursday




OPEN CONFRONTATION: Aakriti’s mother protests during the press conference on Thursday