The headmistress of a Government High School at Kuppuchipalayam in Ammapettai block has been suspended following the death of a Class VI student after he came into contact with a live electric wire on the school premises on Tuesday (August 11, 2026).The deceased was identified as Yogesh, 11. According to the police, the incident occurred around 1.35 p.m. during the lunch break when Yogesh stepped on a live wire that had snapped and fallen near the school’s compound wall. The wire had reportedly snapped during rain and strong winds in Bhavani and surrounding areas on Monday night (August 10, 2026) and fallen near the school’s drinking water tank.Headmistress Nirmala was reportedly aware of the snapped wire and had warned students not to go near the area. However, after lunch, Yogesh and some other students went near the water tank to wash their lunch boxes. Yogesh stepped into water that had accumulated near the wire and suffered an electric shock.Teachers rushed to the spot after being alerted by other students. They used a bamboo pole to move the wire away and rescued Yogesh. He was taken to the Government Primary Health Centre at Mylambadi, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.Following the incident, students and relatives staged a road blockade near the Kuppuchipalayam bus stop on the Bhavani–Mettur–Thoppur National Highway, demanding action. The blockade continued for more than two hours before the protesters dispersed following talks with the authorities.Tension prevailed at the Mylambadi health centre after more than 200 people gathered there. Relatives initially objected when the police attempted to take the body to the Government Erode Medical College Hospital at Perundurai for post-mortem examination. Superintendent of Police D.V. Kiran Shruthi held talks with them, following which the body was taken to Perundurai. The post-mortem was conducted late on Tuesday night and the body handed over to the family.District Collector S. Kandasamy ordered an inquiry into the incident. The Education Department suspended Ms. Nirmala. The Bhavani police are conducting further inquiries. Published - August 12, 2026 07:24 pm IST