Four students from Panini Sanskrit Gurukulam in Mathura’s Vrindavan tragically died after entering a water tank
The incident occurred around 10pm at Panini Sanskrit Gurukulam in Chaitanya Vihar 2. The deceased were identified as Manu Katare, 22, Vishu Sharma, 19, Aryan Pandey, 16, and Devansh Sharma, 17. The students entered the nearly 12-foot-deep tank after a foul smell was noticed, according to police. More than 200 students are enrolled at the institution, with around 100 currently residing on the premises. Classes from Class 6 to 12 are conducted there. DM Chandra Prakash Singh said, “There was a nearly 12-foot-deep water submersible tank on the school premises.
Four children apparently died due to poisonous gas, while one child is completely safe and survived.
Police said he was conscious and able to speak. Mathura SSP Shlok Kumar said the incident occurred at a residential institution where students live and study. Police said further legal action would be taken on the basis of a complaint submitted by the victims’ families.
The fifth student, Rudraksh, was rescued and is undergoing treatment. One student entered first but did not come out. Four others subsequently went inside in an attempt to rescue him, but they too became unconscious. People at the gurukulam eventually managed to pull all five students out and rushed them to hospital, where four were declared dead. Rudraksh was initially admitted to the district hospital and later referred to another facility for better monitoring. “The tank had a foul smell, and the students entered it to clean it. Police have sent the bodies to the mortuary and are contacting the families of the deceased. CCTV footage installed at the premises is also being examined to establish the sequence of events. The gurukulam’s operator reportedly left the premises after the incident. It emitted a foul smell, and five children from the gurukul entered the tank to clean it. A detailed investigation is underway to determine how and why the accident occurred and who was running the gurukul. The chief minister has also taken immediate cognisance of the incident. This is a deeply tragic incident, and all possible assistance will be provided to the bereaved families.”