Surat : Falling Coconuts at Radiant International School Pose Threat to Children’s Safety

Surat : A shadow of fear hangs heavy over the sprawling campus of Radiant International School in Jahangirabad, Surat. The culprits? Not lurking assailants or hidden dangers, but the very trees that line its perimeter – towering coconut palms, their heavy fruits hanging like silent, ticking time bombs. On Tuesday afternoon, that fear materialized, leaving a young girl injured and parents fuming, demanding action before tragedy strikes.

The incident, according to concerned parents, was not an isolated one. Falling coconuts have become a recurring nightmare for the school community. “This is not the first time,” said father of the injured girl. “Just last month, a coconut narrowly missed my son! How many close calls does it take for the school to finally see the danger?”

Their frustration is palpable, directed at the school management’s apparent indifference. “We’ve raised this issue countless times,” echoed, another parent. “The school director simply says they harvest the coconuts regularly. Harvest or not, what about our children’s safety?”

Director Ashish Vaghani, when contacted, offered a response that fell short of reassurance. “We are harvesting coconut regularly,” he stated, seemingly unfazed by parental anxieties. “There is no question of cutting the coconut trees.” Pressed about the safety of students, his reply was curt: “We can’t cut the trees.”

This dismissive attitude has ignited outrage beyond the school gates. “Coconut trees are beautiful, but they have no place in a school compound,” said Darshan Naik, a prominent social activist. “Free-falling coconuts pose a serious threat, not just to children but also to parents and staff. The school’s negligence is irresponsible, and we will be writing to the Minister of Education and the Chief Minister demanding immediate action.”

The question now hangs heavy in the air: will the school administration wake up before a child pays the ultimate price for their misplaced priorities? Or will Radiant International School remain a ticking time bomb, ripe for disaster, until forced to confront the bitter reality of coconuts and consequences?