Teacher slapped a 6-year-old boy — shortly after, he collapsed and died

A six-year-old boy died on Thursday after collapsing in a classroom at a private school in the city of Visakhapatnam in southeastern India, shortly after a teacher was seen slapping him. A security camera recorded the incident, which sparked outrage in India and led to a police investigation and an inquiry by education authorities. At this stage, it has not yet been determined if there is a causal link between the slap and the child's death.

The boy, Tamana Pranay Teja, was a student at the Little Garden School in Visakhapatnam, a large port city in the state of Andhra Pradesh. According to the Indian news magazine The Week, the teacher allegedly scolded him for failing to complete his homework.

In the security camera footage, Pranay is seen standing in front of the teacher while holding his writing board. The teacher pulls him closer and slaps him in the face. Shortly after, the child collapses. According to reports, school staff rushed him to the hospital, but doctors pronounced him dead.

His family claims that the boy left for school that morning healthy and did not suffer from any known illness. Family members blame the teacher for his death and are demanding that severe measures be taken against her and the school administration. Relatives and residents also protested at the King George Hospital in the city, where his body was taken.

The boy's father said that it was Pranay who insisted on going to school that day, even though family members would have preferred him not to attend classes. Hours later, the family had to deal with the news of his death.

The police opened an investigation following the family's complaint. The Times of India reported that a criminal investigation procedure has been opened against the school. Investigators are examining the circumstances of the collapse and the conduct of the staff before and after the child lost consciousness.

Despite initial reports suggesting the possibility of a cardiac event, the exact cause of death is still unknown.

The case has reached the highest levels in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Education Minister Nara Lokesh stated that the child's death is a "most unfortunate" event and promised legal action against those found responsible as well as against the school administration. He added that the state government will stand by Pranay's family.

In parallel with the criminal investigation, the case has reignited questions regarding corporal punishment and the supervision of staff conduct in private schools.