A police officer speaks to an injured person at Ispat General Hospital, Rourkela. Pictures by Uttam Kumar Pal

Rourkela, Aug. 5: A 10-year-old student died on the spot and another was injured when a part of the school’s boundary wall and gate collapsed when a mini truck rammed into it.

The vehicle was moving back after supplying midday meal materials at the school.

Eyewitnesses said Vivek Kechua, a student of Class IV at Sector-6 NAC Steel Township Primary School, came under the debris when the wall collapsed.

The morning shift of the school had just got over and students were about to return home when the incident occurred. The driver was finding it difficult to negotiate due to the presence of so many kids, who were running helter-skelter. Trying to reverse in the melee, the truck hit the boundary wall near the entrance to the school.

The wall, along with a heavy iron gate, collapsed under its impact.

Vivek, a resident of Sector-5 Dus Quarter, who was standing near the gate, was crushed under the falling wall.

Priyanka Haripal, a Class-II student of the school, also got trapped under the debris and was injured.

Midday meal scheme supervisor Prafulla Samantaray also received serious injuries. Both Priyanka and Samantray were admitted to Ispat General Hospital.

Angry residents staged a road blockade demanding compensation for the dead boy’s family. Deputy superintendent of police R. Bhoi rushed to the spot to persuade them to lift the blockade.

Bhoi said: “ The two injured have been shifted to Ispat General Hospital and we are in discussions with the family members of the deceased.”