Girl dies of electric shock from school water cooler

SHAKARGARH: An eight-year-old girl died after she allegedly received an electric shock from a water cooler at a private school in the Langah Bhattian area of Shakargarh, police said on Tuesday.

The incident took place at Shaheen Public School, where the child, identified as Umaima, had gone to drink water from an electric water cooler installed on the premises, according to police and education department officials. They said she reportedly suffered a severe electric shock there.

Officials said immediate efforts were made to provide medical assistance, but the girl could not survive.

After receiving information about the incident, police from Noor Kot station reached the school, collected evidence and shifted the body to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital to complete legal formalities.

Case registered against principal and owner

Police said a case was registered against the school principal and owner following the child’s death. The school owner was also taken into custody.

The first information report was lodged on the complaint of Assistant Education Officer Muhammad Asghar Khan. According to the FIR, the main factors behind the incident included defective electrical wiring, negligence in safety arrangements and the unsafe installation of electrical equipment.

School principal Muhammad Afzal Khan and school owner Shahid Javed were named in the case.

Initial inquiry points to faulty installation

Police and education department officials said initial investigations indicated that faulty wiring and the absence of adequate safety measures in the electrical system may have led to the incident.

SHO Noor Kot Hafiz Asim said preliminary findings showed that the water cooler or water filtration system had not been installed safely, which caused electric leakage and resulted in the child’s death.

The statement was given by District Police Officer Naveed Ahmed, who said the inquiry was continuing.

The case has drawn attention to the circumstances surrounding the installation of electrical equipment at the school, with investigators examining the role of wiring faults and safety lapses cited in the FIR and by police officials.

Authorities have so far said that the investigation is focused on determining responsibility for the alleged negligence that led to the fatal electric shock at the school.

Police said legal proceedings had been initiated after the death, while the school owner had already been detained in connection with the case.