TN: The Trainer Who Pushed Girl To Her Death During Drill Not Part Of National Disaster Management Authority
Image Credits: The News Minute

TN: The Trainer Who Pushed Girl To Her Death During Drill Not Part Of National Disaster Management Authority

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On Thursday, a 19-year-old student died during a mock drill allegedly conducted by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in a Coimbatore college. The tragedy happened when the girl was forced to jump by the Disaster Management programme trainer in Coimbatore. As she fell, her head hit the sunshade of the first floor, which led to her death. The police have detained the trainer.

According to the Hindustan Times, Logeshwari was with 20 other students, who were being trained to jump from the building during emergencies.


The incident

The incident took place in a private college, Kovai Kalaimagal College of Arts and Science near Narasipuram. The girl, N Logeshwari was a native of Nathegoundenpudur near Alandurai. A video of the incident has gone viral. In the video, the girl without any head safety gear is seen standing on the ledge of the second floor of the college building. The anxious looking girl can be seen being pushed by the alleged NDMA trainer TR Arumugam. While a few students on the ground waited to catch the girl, holding a plastic net.

As per the eyewitnesses, the 19-year-old was reluctant to jump. The trainer then pushed her, and she landed on the net after colliding with the sunshade on the first floor.

Logeshwari, who was in her second year of a BBA degree course, was first taken to a private hospital in Thondamuthur, where she was administered first aid. Doctors there referred her to the State-run Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, where she was declared “brought dead”. According to media reports, she had a cut on her neck. Logeswari’s body has been kept at the CMCH mortuary, where a post-mortem will be held on Friday.


Police inquiry

A case has been registered by the Tamil Nadu police against the alleged NDMA trainer, TR Arumugam. The Logical Indian accessed the FIR copy. As per the FIR copy given by Superintendent of Police Lakshman, the authorities of the Kovai Kalaimagal College of Arts and Science in Narasipuram told the police that the drill was conducted by the National Disaster Management Authority of India (NDMAI).

The police also said that they have not received a complaint from the victim’s parents as of now.

However, a senior police officer said that a case would be registered against the college and the trainer for conducting the drill with “utter negligence and without adequate safety measures.”


Tale of a Fake trainer

In a surprising turn of events, Rajendra Ratnoo, Commissioner (Disaster Management), Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Agency, which functions under the NDMAI, told The Hindu that he was not aware of the training that was conducted at the college. “All training sessions of the NDMAI are conducted only through the District Collector,” he said.


According to The News Minute, NDMA member Kamal Kishore has confirmed that Arumugam is not a trainer appointed by them.

“We have a certain criterion when it comes such forms of training. We collaborate with the local emergency services. Jumping off the second floor is definitely not part of our training programme,” he said.

According to the police, at the time of the initial enquiry, Arumugam had said that he got a diploma in the field of Disaster Management from the National Institute of Disaster Management in New Delhi. He also claimed that he has received his appointment order as a trainer from the Ministry of Home Affairs. The police are yet to verify his claims, they will also verify if Arumugam was an impersonator or was using fake credentials.


Inquiry after the tragedy

According to the Hindu, Higher Education Minister K.P. Anbalagan said, a probe would be conducted into the matter, and action would be taken against those found guilty.

The college authorities told The Logical Indian that the school is on vacation for next few days. We also tried to contact college principal N. Mala. Even after several attempts, she remained unreachable.

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Editor : The Logical Indian

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