In a heart-wrenching incident at Gampola Ben Hill International School, a five-year-old boy named Mehmed Seim Azwi lost his life after a tree fell on him during school hours. The tragic incident occurred during the school day break, with the child playing under the fallen tree.
Mehmed Seim Azwi, fondly known as Little Aswi, was a pre-school student at the Gampola Ben Hill International School. The eldest of two children, Little Aswi was playing with other children when the accident took place. Two other children were injured in the incident, with one admitted to Gampola Hospital and another in serious condition at Kandy General Hospital.
According to the Athgala police investigating the matter, the school, which conducts classes from pre-school to high school, had several buildings. The unfortunate event unfolded in the pre-school section where 31 children were playing in the yard during the break. A sudden wind caused a tree, perceived by parents as unsafe and located outside the school fence, to fall among the children.
The injured children were promptly taken to Gampola Teaching Hospital, where Little Aswi tragically passed away due to his injuries. Another child in critical condition was transferred to Kandy National Hospital, while the third child continues to receive treatment at Gampola Hospital.
The incident has sparked concerns about the negligence and carelessness of those responsible for the safety of school premises. Parents and witnesses allege that the unsafe condition of the tree had been previously highlighted, emphasizing that preventive measures could have averted the tragedy.
In response to the incident, a team of officers, led by Senior Superintendent of Police Asanka Bandara Gunathilaka and Chief Inspector Senarath Kekulandara of Athgala Police Station, conducted investigations.
