Eight-year-old Ayush Kumar Nath fell ill at school and later fell down a staircase, then died after 12 days lying in a coma. His parents say that his school knew but did nothing!
During the morning of May 13th, a heavy summer day, the day before school vacation starts at Maharishi Vidya Mandir in Bansdroni, South Kolkata, eight-year-old Ayush Kumar Nath fell ill. Right after the feeling of discomfort started, he reported it to his teacher that he was not feeling well. According to his family, he said the same thing to his teacher more than once.
This is where his teachers and other authorities at school failed to do what they should have done, and did what led to a worse situation, which is that he was made to sit near windows, no one called his parents, and nobody took him to the hospital or doctor. Around 11:30 AM, as students were being dismissed, Ayush fell down a staircase and suffered severe head injuries. He was found on a bench near the principal’s office when his father arrived. By the time he reached SSKM Hospital, he had slipped into a coma. He never came out of it. Ayush Kumar Nath died on May 25, 2026. He was in Class III. He was eight years old.
Ayush’s father accused the school of negligence, saying his son’s condition was ignored and there was no fan where he sat. Following his death, his parents protested outside the school, demanding answers about student safety and care. The school insists they gave first aid after the fall and denies any wrongdoing. Police have questioned school officials as part of their ongoing investigation into what happened.
The father also noted that neither the school council nor principal Susmita Chakraborty reached out to the family after Ayush’s death. When he contacted the class teacher, she refused to speak. This silence, for the family, is as damning as anything else.
The School’s Response:
Maharishi Vidya Mandir has denied all allegations of negligence. In statements to the media, the school maintained that Ayush appeared “normal and fit” for most of the school day and only complained of discomfort around dismissal time. School authorities said staff attended to him immediately once he showed signs of distress and safely handed him over to his father. Principal Susmita Chakraborty stated, “I do not understand why Ayush’s parents are trying to defame us. We take utmost care of our students, and there is no way any one of them is neglected.” The school also appealed against what it called “rumours and misinformation” spreading online, saying it is fully cooperating with investigators.
Parents and community members gathered outside the school in the days following Ayush’s death, demanding accountability and a thorough investigation. Their anger was not just about one child. It was the accumulated frustration of parents who have long felt that private schools in India operate with near-total impunity when it comes to student welfare. The protests echoed those across the country in Delhi in 2024 after the Chinmaya Vidyalaya case, in various states after incidents involving corporal punishment, inadequate sanitation, or delayed emergency response. Each time, the script is familiar: a family’s grief, a school’s denial, an investigation, and then often silence. The investigation is going on, but the precious life of Ayush Kumar Nath is being denied justice days after his unjust death. The pain he went through, the truths he tried to tell and the grief his parents now own is what they(the responsible ones)are delaying.
Even long after his unjust death, the one who is silent, and the one who doesn’t care to speak, is walking around and sleeping tight without the heavy thoughts of their actions. May Ayush find his justice and rest in peace.
Reference:
- The Times of India. “Kolkata Class III student dies after falling from school staircase; parents allege negligence.” May 2026.
- The Telegraph (Kolkata). Coverage of the death of Ayush Kumar Nath, subsequent protests by parents, and the ongoing police investigation. May 2026.
- ABP Ananda. Reports on statements made by Ayush Kumar Nath’s family, school authorities, and residents following the incident. May 2026.
- TV9 Bangla. Coverage of protests outside Maharishi Vidya Mandir, Bansdroni, and reactions from parents demanding accountability. May 2026.
- Statements by Principal Susmita Chakraborty and officials of Maharishi Vidya Mandir as reported by multiple news outlets, including The Telegraph and ABP Ananda.
- Kolkata Police investigation updates reported by local and national media regarding the circumstances surrounding Ayush Kumar Nath’s illness, fall, hospitalisation, and death.
Note: At the time of writing, the police investigation remains ongoing. Allegations of negligence made by the family have not yet been conclusively established by investigators or a court of law.