A six-year-old UKG student died after collapsing inside a private school in Visakhapatnam’s Town Kotharoad locality on Thursday, with his family alleging that he was slapped by a woman teacher over unfinished homework.

The deceased student was identified as Pranay Tej, a student of Little Garden School in the One-Town police station limits.

CCTV footage from the school, which has been obtained by authorities and circulated on social media, appears to show the teacher scolding the child. The boy is seen crying and moving his hands as though pleading with her. The teacher then appears to adjust his shirt and pants before slapping him. Within seconds, the child collapses into her lap. The teacher is seen attempting to lift the boy, but he appears unresponsive.

According to the family, the child was being reprimanded by the teacher for not completing his homework when he became frightened, started crying and coughing, and subsequently collapsed. The family has alleged that the teacher assaulted him shortly before he lost consciousness.

School staff reportedly rushed Pranay to King George Hospital (KGH) in Visakhapatnam. Doctors declared him dead on arrival. While initial reports have referred to a possible cardiac arrest triggered by extreme fear, police said the exact medical cause of death will be established only after the post-mortem examination.

The incident triggered outrage among the child’s family members, who staged protests outside the school and at KGH, demanding stringent action against the teacher and the school management. The family also questioned why they were not informed immediately about the child’s condition.

Police and revenue officials visited the school and the hospital as part of the investigation. Police have registered a case and are questioning people who were present at the school while examining CCTV footage and other evidence to determine the circumstances leading to the child’s death.

The incident has also drawn attention to concerns over physical punishment and the treatment of young children in schools.

Andhra Pradesh human resources development minister Nara Lokesh expressed condolences to the bereaved family and said action would be initiated against the school management.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Pranay Tej’s death, and the post-mortem report is expected to provide further clarity on the medical cause of death.

Also read: Karnataka: Teacher booked for Class 9 student’s alleged assault with stick