A girl suffocated to death on her fourth birthday after she was locked inside the school bus in 43-degree-Celsius heat when staff forgot her.
Little Minsa Maryam Jacob had dozed off and failed to get off the bus when it arrived at Springfield Kindergarten in Al Wakrah, Doha, Qatar on Sunday, 11th September.
Staff locked the vehicle – which was reportedly parked in the open – unaware that she was still fast asleep on board.
It was only when they returned to the bus that afternoon to take the schoolchildren back home that they found Minsa unconscious on board.
She was rushed to a local hospital, but medics were unable to save her life.
Local media reported on Monday that a post-mortem examination was still pending, but it is suspected Minsa suffocated to death.
Reports said daytime temperatures were between 36 and 43 degrees Celsius in Doha on Sunday.
Her parents – Kochuparambil Abhilash Chacko and Soumya, from Kottayam, Kerala, India – reported the incident to the police.
Minsa also leaves behind a sister.
Her remains will reportedly be taken to Kottayam following the autopsy.
According to preliminary reports, the staff responsible for the school bus were arrested.
It is not clear if any charges have been pressed.
The Ministry of Education and Higher Education of Qatar said in a statement on 11th September: “The Ministry of Education and Higher Education mourns the death of a kindergarten student at a private school. The ministry, in cooperation with the respective authorities have started an investigation into the incident.
“The ministry, as well as the respective authorities will take the necessary measures as well as the maximum punishment against the aggressors with regards to regulations and according to the results of the ongoing investigation.
“The ministry also affirms its keenness to adhere to the highest quality of security and safety standards for its students, and will not tolerate any shortcomings in this regard. It extends its sincerest condolences to the family of the deceased student.”
