94 children were charred to death when fire broke out at a private school in Kumbakonam on July 16, 2004.
The District and Sessions Court in Thanjavur convicted 10 accused in Kumbakonam school fire case. Of the 21 accused, 11 have been acquitted. The accused have been convicted under IPC Section 304 – II, 338 and other sections. The ten convicted include the prime accused and school founder Palanisamy, his wife Saraswathi, adopted daughter Santhalakshmi and four education department officials.
The fire that broke out on July 16, 2004 in the noon meal centre of Sri Krishna Middle School ran to the first floor with a thatched roof where 200 students were housed.
Sri Krishna Aided Private School, Saraswathi Nursery and Primary School and the Sri Krishna Girls High School functioned in the same building.
The incident shook the conscience of the State and raised serious questions about safety in schools.
