Darjeeling, Nov. 23: A Class XII Mizo student of Mount Hermon School in Darjeeling died after he fell off a cliff with two of his friends last evening.

The 40-foot-high rock face is adjacent to the school and the police said the boys had sneaked out for an expedition on the sly. They were trying to hurry back hearing the dinner bell at 6pm when they fell.

All three are from Aizawl — Romel C. Lal Ropuia, 18, who died, and Lalrisanga Hmar, 18, and Zolianzula, 20.

“They had left the school after 3.30pm without permission,” a police officer said.

The trio had been reported missing by the school when they failed to report to hostel by 5pm.

Hmar, who escaped almost unscathed, said: “Ropuia slipped and went down the slope. We tried to help him but could not.”

Hmar had a cellphone with him and he called a friend in the hostel.

Principal George Fernandez said he came to know about the incident around 5.45pm.

“We immediately went to the spot but it took quite some time to locate Ropuia. He seemed to have banged his head on the rocks and died instantly. One of them was stuck on a tree.”

Ropuia’s father is an executive engineer of the Mizoram government. “The boy’s sister studies in Siliguri and she has come while his brother is on his way. They will fly to Aizawl with the body tomorrow,” said Fernandez.

A one-hour prayer service was held at the school cathedral for Ropuia. Teachers and friends remembered him as a good student.

“He was also keen on football and basketball,” said Fernandez.

After the accident, the school, spread over 74 acres, plans to fence the premises. The 114-year-old institution has around 600 students, 90 per cent of whom are boarders.

Old Hermonites recalled the Black Rock — named by the students themselves — as a favourite haunt.

The site is in the same area where the Darjeeling ropeway had snapped killing tourists in 2003.