Nepal tragedy
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Heads of various educational institutions here, have expressed shock and surprise over the incident and manner in which a Meghalaya student lost her life during an excursion organised by her Chennai college.
Student Hamida has been reported missing when a bridge she was walking across river Trishuli, collapsed, when she along with her student group had embarked upon a sight seeing tour after the educational assignment had got over. A fellow student lost her life while several students sustained minor to critical injuries.
Principal of Shillong’s St Edmund’s College Dr Silvanus Lamare said the priority of their college and every college should be student safety during such tours. “Study tours are being organised by us every year departmental-wise for the benefit of the students since 1923. But, in our case, we ensure the students safety, parents’ consent and collate medical reports of the students before the trip” Dr Lamare said.
Reacting to the Nepal tragedy, which took place not during the educational segment of the trip but during the sightseeing segment, Dr Lamare categorically said “We don’t organise tours for sight seeing and they are strictly educational.We tie up with institutions from the particular state where the students are supposed to go for tour”.
St Anthony’s College principal, Fr Ioannis Warpakma said “We try our level best to take good care of the students and ther safety is our main concern.
“We also make sure that there are sufficient teachers to look after these students while on tour”, Fr Warpakma added.
Principal of St Mary’s College Sister Isabella Kyrsian said mishaps are unforeseen but “I think sufficient means should be undertaken to prevent such incidents icluding a stricter watch on the student activities and adequate teachers who can advise the students on dos and donts.
However, she was quick to add that college cannot be held responsible for the incidents like this if parents consent has been taken.
