To avoid repeat of a mishap like stampede in a Khajoori Khas school in 2009 which left five girls dead and injured more than 34 others, the city government on Wednesday told the Delhi high court that it has decided to strengthen its infrastructure in its schools within one month.
Appearing before a division bench, standing counsel Najmi Waziri said work would start in its 400 schools all over the city within a month.
After hearing Mr Waziri’s submission, the bench sought an affidavit from the government with details about the nature of work it would carry out to avoid mishaps.
At least five girls were allegedly killed and 34 others were seriously injured in the stampede that had occurred when they using a narrow staircase after they were asked to shift classrooms during examinations on a rainy day on September 10, 2009.
Earlier, the court had enhanced the ex gratia payment compensation amount from `2 lakhs to `5 lakhs and directed the government to pay it to the parents of the five girls who were killed in the incident.
The court was earlier informed that one of the causes for the stampede was the rumour that current passed through the flood water, leading to the rush of children to escape.
The court had directed the competent authority to broaden the passage of the school and build a proper drainage system to clear waterlogging in the premises as expeditiously as possible.
The bench had also directed the Delhi government to take action against the officials responsible for occurrence of such a man-made incident in the school.