Teenager Falls To Death During Safety Drill In College, Trainer Arrested

A 19-year-old girl died during a disaster preparedness drill in a private college in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu Thursday. The girl was allegedly forced to jump off the building during the drill that was conducted in violation of all norms.

N Logeswari hit a sunshade on the first floor and died on the spot as a net was held by students on the ground. She was taken to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead from injuries in the occipital region of the head and right neck.

Officials said around 20 students volunteered to jump through an emergency window during the "disaster management and first aid" training conducted by the college management.

“When she was reluctant to jump off the second floor, trainer, who was standing behind her, pushed her even as she was clearly not prepared for the jump,” the police said.

"The girl said she was interested in jumping from the second floor, but later backed out. So, she was sent back by the trainer. Later, she gained confidence and told the trainer that she wanted to jump,” a student said, according to the Times of India, adding “However, when she got on to the sunshade, she was overcome by fear and was reluctant to jump. But the trainer kept prompting her and finally he gave her a push. Unfortunately, she hit the sunshade of first floor and suffered severe injuries on neck and head."

The trainer, Arumugam, who was speculated to have a certificate from the National Disaster Management Authority to conduct drills, has been booked under "culpable homicide not amounting to murder."

“Unfortunate that this incidence has happened & we have lost a young life. Our 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,” the National Disaster Management Authority tweeted Friday.

The trainer took a theory class for the students about disaster management drills and five students had reportedly jumped off the second floor and landed safely on the net before Logeswari.

"When my daughter refused to jump, she should not have been forced to jump. But the trainer pushed her down. The college management did not supervise the drill and I lost my daughter,” said Nallagounder, the girl’s father.

“The management did not inform us about the incident,” her mother Shivakami said, adding the college management must take responsibility for the incident.

"I've told the college education department and the police to take strict action," Chief Minister of the state E Palaniswami said, announcing rupees 500,000 ($7,300) compensation for her family.

In an unrelated incident in 2015, a fire and air raid drill went horribly wrong at a middle school in northwest China after smoke machines used in the drill produced too much smoke.

Around 190 students were hospitalized after inhaling the artificial smoke that caused fainting, vomiting, coughing, and breathing problems.