Bengaluru: An eight-year-old boy wearing a Lord Narasimha Swamy costume suffered burns on the face, ears, nose and hands after a spark from firecrackers hit his mask at his school in east Bengaluru last week.The incident took place at the school in Anandapura, near TC Palya, on Nov 4. The boy underwent plastic surgery and was discharged later.According to a complaint filed by the boy’s father, who works at an architectural firm, the Class III student, in Narasimha Swamy attire and carrying a mask in his bag, entered the school around 8.30am.Around 10am, the family received a call, saying a spark from a flowerpot and cracker arrangement landed on the hair of the mask, setting it ablaze on stage. The fire reportedly spread rapidly.The school rushed the injured child to hospital. After the preliminary exam, the hospital advised parents to shift him to another hospital with better facilities.In a police complaint, the father has accused the school management of gross negligence and sought appropriate legal action against the school’s principal and teachers in charge of the programme.The boy’s father told TOI that police allegedly delayed registering an FIR. Police have registered a case under Section 125 (act endangering the life or personal safety of others) and under the Juvenile Justice Act on Nov 5. A senior officer said notices would be issued to the school principal and teachers, and necessary action would be taken.
