Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur (MS)

Puttur, Jun 15: A case is filed in city police station here with regards to the death of an assistant cook of midday meal scheme of falling into the hot sambar vessel that was kept ready for serving for school children.

Agnes Pramila D’Souza (37), resident of Malaru in Kuriya village, who used to work as assistant cook at St Victor’s School of the city is the unfortunate victim of this tragedy. She is survived by a daughter and a son.

The school authorities say that Agnes did not die of falling into the sambar vessel, but because of too much consumption of liquor.

In the complaint filed with the police by brother of deceased Agnes, she fell into the vessel of Sambar on May 30 as she slipped into it. As the hot sambar fell on her body, she received burn injuries and was rushed to Adarsh hospital in the town. However, doctors at the hospital advised the family to take her to Mangaluru for higher treatment. Agnes was admitted to Wenlock hospital of Mangaluru and was under treatment. However, she succumbed to the burn injuries on June 12 evening.

Defending the school, Rosalin Lobo, head teacher of the school said, “Agnes had come to school at 11 am on May 30. She did not do any work. As she was inebriated, she was not allowed to go near the kitchen. She was sitting on the playground near the kitchen. Later, she went to the kitchen asking for gruel. Our staff also accompanied her.

“When Agnes was going to the kitchen, her legs brushed the vessel in which hot sambar was kept ready to be served to the students. She sustained injuries to two parts of her body. Though Agnes refused to go to hospital, we took her forcefully to taluk government hospital in Puttur and then to a private hospital again. From there, she was taken to Wenlock hospital.

“There is a record in which the doctor said that the burns are just 18% on the body and she will get cured within a week. However, Agnes consumed liquor along with the medicines. That is why the burns were not cured and she died. Liquor was the reason for her death.

“Several attempts were made to bring Agnes out of alcohol addiction but they were futile. It was decided by the management of the school to suspend her from work from the month of June,” she said.

Vishnuprasad, Akshara Dasoha official said, “Preliminary information is collected from the school. According to them, assistant cook Agnes had consumed huge amount of alcohol on the day of the incident. She sustained 18% burns when her leg brushed the sambar vessel in the kitchen. There is also information that Agnes died of heavy alcohol consumption and not burn injuries. A comprehensive investigation will be done and report will be sent to the higher authorities.”