Eighth-Grade Student Undergoes Surgery After Air-Gun Pellet Injury at Bengaluru School Festival

In Bengaluru, an unfortunate incident occurred when an eighth-grade student was struck by an air-gun pellet during a school festival, requiring immediate surgical intervention.

The accident took place on Saturday at New Baldwin International Residential School in Anekal taluk, where Charan Tej, a Class 8 student from Chikkatirupathi, was enjoying snacks with his mother and grandmother after visiting the science exhibition.

While standing near a festival stall, a loud sound resembling a firecracker was heard, after which the boy suddenly collapsed while clutching his head in pain.

Medical examination at the hospital revealed metal pellets embedded in his scalp, necessitating a minor surgical procedure to extract them.

The incident has sparked outrage among parents, who attribute the accident to negligence by the school management. Charan's father, Narayanaswamy, expressed his frustration, emphasizing that such potentially hazardous activities should never be conducted in proximity to schoolchildren.

According to reports, the incident occurred at a festival stall where participants were shooting balloons with air guns. The school administration explained that the stall was supposed to be completely enclosed with wooden barriers on all sides, but inadequate supervision led to pellets escaping the designated area, one of which struck Charan.

School staff responded quickly by transferring the student to a nearby medical facility, where an MRI scan confirmed the location of the pellet. Subsequently, the family moved Charan to a private hospital for the surgical procedure.

Venugopal, who heads New Baldwin International School, acknowledged the oversight, stating that such an incident should not have happened. He confirmed that while the air-gun balloon-shooting activity was an approved part of the festival, proper barricading measures should have been implemented.

Police authorities have confirmed that the student is no longer in danger. They also mentioned that the parents have not registered any formal complaint against the school administration.