Boy injured in TTD school fire incident shifted to Vellore CMC hospital

 Tirupati: A boy was seriously injured after consuming turpentine oil and getting caught in a fire mishap at the TTD-run deaf and dumb school in Tirupati on Tuesday night.

Chandu, a native of Rajaka colony of Vadamalapet in Tirupati district, has been transferred to the CMC Hospital in Vellore, for advanced medical care.

Reports had circulated on certain social media platforms that the boy, studying 9th class at the TTD school, was forced to drink turpentine oil and was later set on fire by fellow students on Tuesday night.

TTD joint executive officer (JEO) Sada Bhargavi however claimed on Wednesday that the deaf boy entered the school's storeroom on Tuesday night and “voluntarily” consumed turpentine oil. Later, in an “attempt to create flames,” he “got caught in a fire” and started screaming for help.

Bhargavi said the boy was taken to the SVRR Government General Hospital in Tirupati, for immediate medical attention, and was then taken to CMC-Vellore for more specialized care. “All medical expenses for the boy's treatment at CMC would be borne by the TTD,” she added.

The JEO claimed that the boy consumed turpentine oil kept in the storeroom for painting activities. A fire incident occurred “during his attempt to ignite flames.” Her claim was less convincing, however. She rejected media reports that the boy had intentionally tried to end his life through self-immolation due to stress.