Agartala: Two toddlers sustained critical burn injuries after an Anganwadi kitchen assistant accidentally threw hot water on them at Bairagimura, Melaghar under the Sepahijala district of Tripura.
According to available information, both girls were playing outside the window which was used for throwing liquid waste followed by cooking food for the children enrolled at the Centre.
The cooking assistant didn’t notice the babies playing there and threw a bucket full of hot water out of the window. The water was reportedly used for boiling eggs that were supposed to be served to the children at the Centre.
Both girls suffered severe burn injuries on different parts of their bodies. For advanced treatment, both of them were shifted to GBP Hospital in Agartala.
The Anganwadi Centre is managed by Jaylakshmi Sarkar Debbarma. The injured girls are identified as Pangti Debbarma (5) and Hamari Debbarma (5.5).
Unable to bear the pain, one of the injured girls fell unconscious while the other cried loudly, prompting the locals to rush to the spot. Under pressure from the neighbors of the government-sponsored preschool facility, Anganwadi worker Jaylaxmi Sarkar Debbarma and her helper (kitchen assistant) Kanchanmala Debbarma took the babies to Melaghar Hospital.
They also got the babies discharged after first aid and dressing on the day of the incident (March 21). Later in the night, the health condition of the babies began to deteriorate. The parents rushed them to Melaghar Hospital from where they were shifted to GBP hospital for better treatment.
Speaking to media persons, the father of Pangti Debbarma alleged that despite the incident occurring due to the negligence of the Anganwadi Worker, the department took no responsibility for the treatment of the babies. According to him, instead of making arrangements for their treatment, the Anganwadi worker and Social Welfare Department are trying to shy away from their responsibilities.
They urged Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha’s intervention in the matter.
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