Kerala student killed by falling coconut tree

A coconut tree swaying dangerously in a strong wind fell on two students in a school here on Wednesday, killing one of them and badly injuring the other, authorities said.

The incident took place in the afternoon when the students were playing in the state-run school at Meenchantha near here.

Witnesses said the coconut tree fell on Class 6 student Shijil Ahamed.

The other students rushed to tell teachers about the incident, and Ahamed and another student were pulled out from under the tree and taken to a hospital.

Ahamed died in the hospital, while the other student was undergoing treatment.

Angry parents said that on previous occasions they had brought to the attention of the school authorities that the coconut tree was dangerously positioned and needed to be cut down, but no action was taken.

The Kozhikode district educational officer has been asked to submit a report on the incident.

Last month, too, five school students died at Kothamangalam in Ernakulam district when a roadside tree fell on their school bus.