Tragedy in Krishna Nagar: Class 12 student found burnt behind school guard room

A regular Saturday morning in Krishna Nagar, East Delhi, changed suddenly when an 18-year-old Class 12 student was found badly burnt behind her school’s guard room. Police and fire officials arrived quickly after a PCR call about a fire, but they could not save the young woman. The burns on her face showed the severity of the incident.

Taking a note, Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood ordered an inquiry into the death of a 17-year-old student and said necessary action would be taken based on the findings.

The incident happened just before noon. At 11:58 am, the fire control room got a call saying a student had reportedly set herself on fire inside the school. Fire officer Anoop Singh confirmed the call time and said only hospital staff could later confirm the severity of the burns.

When police from Krishna Nagar station arrived, they found the girl behind the guard room, and the area showed clear signs of what had happened. Officers collected some items from the scene and from her school bag, and a crime team was called to record evidence.

The family learned about the incident only later. The student’s sister remembered dropping her off at school that morning. “She was looking normal,” she said, still trying to understand how a regular morning turned into a tragedy after a call at 12:40 pm. She said the girl’s face was badly burnt and did not know why this happened. The sister-in-law, who said the student was about 17 and in Class 12, also said no one told her about the incident; she only found out after coming to the school to look for her. Both women were in shock, as a normal school day was suddenly changed.

Police have stated they are examining the circumstances that led to the incident and that the investigation continues. Police said they are looking into what led to the incident and that the investigation is ongoing. Early steps focused on the items found and statements from people at the scene, but no official word has been given yet on the motive or what exactly happened. The school, usually busy with students, was instead marked by police tape and the family’s quiet sadness as the day went on.  What began with a routine drop-off ended, within hours, in a hospital determination of burns and an ongoing inquiry into what materials and what thoughts brought an 18-year-old to that quiet spot behind the guard room.

In a city where school corridors usually echo with the pressures of Class 12, the silence that followed the fire call carries the weight of a young life cut short before its ordinary promises could unfold. Investigators continue their work; the family continues its vigil. The facts, for now, remain those recovered from the scene and those spoken, still raw, by the sister who last saw the girl looking normal.

Sood visited the Government Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya in Krishna Nagar following the incident and sought detailed information from the school management and police officials. Krishna Nagar MLA Anil Goyal was also present during the visit.

The minister also interacted with local residents to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident and sought details about the progress of the police investigation and the evidence available in the case, according to a statement issued by his office.

Expressing grief over the student’s death, Sood said the incident was deeply distressing and a matter of serious concern.

Necessary action would be taken in accordance with law based on the findings of investigation, Sood said.