Gujarat : Narrow Escape Fails to Shake Radiant International School Stance on Dangerous Coconut Trees

Surat : Even a day after a young student narrowly escaped serious injury when a coconut plummeted from a tree onto her head within the Radiant International School premises, the school management remains steadfast in its decision to retain the potentially hazardous trees. Meanwhile, parents and activists raise concerns about the lack of action from both the school and the city administration.

On Tuesday, a girl studying in the first standard was struck by a falling coconut from one of the numerous trees lining the school’s perimeter wall. This incident, fortunately, did not result in major injuries, but it has ignited outrage among parents and local activists who view the continued presence of these trees as a ticking time bomb.

“These coconut trees pose a grave danger not just to the students, but also to parents, security guards, and even visitors,” asserted social activist Dharmesh Gami. “Despite repeated complaints and the recent incident, the school authorities seem more concerned with saving their skin on social media than addressing the root cause of the problem.”

Gami, along with fellow activist Darshan Naik, submitted written complaints against the school management to the Surat district collector and other authorities. However, their pleas have fallen on deaf ears, leaving parents increasingly anxious about their children’s safety.

“My daughter walks past those trees every day, and now I constantly worry about something like this happening again,” expressed one concerned parent, who wished to remain anonymous. “The school needs to take responsibility and cut down these trees immediately before a tragedy unfolds.”

Adding to the frustration, the city administration seems content to remain on the sidelines, waiting for a more serious incident to occur before taking any action.

“It’s appalling that both the school and the administration are displaying such blatant disregard for safety,” said Naik. “This is not just about one tree or one incident; it’s about prioritizing the well-being of our children. We demand immediate action before it’s too late.”

As of now, the Radiant International School has not issued any official statement regarding the incident or their plans for addressing the safety concerns raised by parents and activists. The lack of transparency and proactive measures only intensifies the fear and frustration among those who feel the school is prioritizing aesthetics over student safety. With no concrete action taken, the question remains: how many close calls will it take for the school and the authorities to prioritize the safety of their students and community?