Three held for LKG student’s death in septic tank in private school in Vikravandi

Three arrested after four-year-old girl dies falling into septic tank at St. Mary’s School due to negligence.

The Vikravandi police on Saturday (January 4, 2025) arrested three persons including the Correspondent and Principal of St. Mary’s Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Vikravandi after a four-year-old girl died after she fell into an uncovered septic tank in the school’s premises on Friday (December 3, 2025) noon.

The arrested were identified as the school’s Correspondent Emilda, Principal Dominique Mary and class Teacher Angel.

The victim, Lia Lakshmi, daughter of Palanivel and Sivasankari was studying LKG in the private school.

On Friday noon, the child went to the toilet when she slipped and fell into the septic tank in the school premises. The lid of the septic tank was barely covered and had rusted completely. On information, teachers and staff rushed the child to the Government Villupuram Medical College and Hospital at Mundiyampakkam where she was declared dead.

Following the incident, irate parents and local residents resorted to a road blockade on the East Vikravandi bypass demanding action against the school management.

Preliminary investigations by the police revealed that gross negligence on the part of the school management had resulted in the child’s death.

The septic tank’s cover had to be locked for safety. The cover, however, had rusted and was left open. The school authorities did not bother to cover the tank and this led to the accident, the police said. Further investigations are on.