Navi Mumbai: Following an uproar over the death of a 13-year-old student during a school trip organised by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) Education Department, the civic administration has issued a clarification. The post-mortem report from the Primary Health Center in Khopoli confirmed that the student died due to cardio-respiratory arrest caused by acute myocardial infarction (heart attack), ruling it a natural death.
The tragic incident took place at Imagica Theme Park, Khopoli, on February 25, when an 8th-grade student from NMMC School No. 76 collapsed while sitting on a bench. According to reports, the student, along with others, arrived at Imagica around 10:00 AM and spent the day enjoying various attractions under teacher supervision. At approximately 5:00 PM, he suddenly lost consciousness. Teachers immediately sought medical assistance, and the park’s in-house medical team administered first aid, but the student did not respond.
He was rushed to Parvati Hospital in a cardiac ambulance, where doctors declared him dead upon arrival. The post-mortem examination at the Primary Health Center in Khopoli confirmed the cause of death as a heart attack.
Civic Administration’s Response
Upon receiving news of the tragedy, Municipal Commissioner Dr. Kailas Shinde ordered an on-ground investigation. He directed senior officials, including Deputy Commissioners Sharad Pawar (Administration), Sangharatna Khillare (Education), and Bhagwat Doiphode (Property), to visit Imagica Theme Park and coordinate with park management, doctors, and police officials to gather facts.
To ensure transparency, all teachers and staff present on the trip were asked to submit detailed statements regarding the incident. Additionally, the municipal administration is verifying the post-mortem report, police findings, and eyewitness accounts for a thorough review.
NMMC Schools Educational Tour
The NMMC-organized school trip took place from February 17 to February 25, involving 6,666 students from 35 schools, accompanied by 557 teachers and staff, who traveled in 236 AC buses. On February 25, students from four NMMC schools—Ghansoli, Yadav Nagar, Chinchpada, and Turbhe Store—were part of the tour.
This unfortunate incident has raised concerns over student health screenings and emergency medical preparedness during educational trips. Authorities are expected to review safety measures for future school excursions.