School organises marathon for students without proper accommodation

Highlights: The organisers also did not provide the supply of drinking water for the participants on the entire stretch.

BENGALURU: On Sunday Podar International School organised an event to promote a physically engaging healthy activity for more than 250 students, ended up becoming a marathon session for the kids from Chikka Kodigehalli Main Road to KLE Law College between 6:45AM and 9 AM. 

Children ran on the main road early in the morning. As there were no policemen to control the vehicular movement on the 3-km stretch. A few potentially threatening situations were encountered during the marathon.

A parent, who had accompanied his daughter to the marathon, said that, “A girl student was almost hit by a speeding cab, which was trying to overtake a mini truck.” 

The organisers also did not provide the supply of drinking water for the participants on the entire stretch. “A few students were seen left exhausted during the marathon. There was no drinking water for the participants,” said another parent.

For medical facility purposes, the school had just converted a school bus into an ambulance. The ‘ambulance’ vehicle was not comprised of any doctor and medical staffers. 

The Principal of the Podar International School told a source that, “I did not see the policemen myself, but my employees told me that four policemen were deputed to regulate vehicular movement on the stretch. The purpose of the marathon was to ensure good health for the students. We had organised two marathons — 2 km for under-12 (150 students) and 3 km for under-14 (110 students). We arranged snacks for the participants and also felicitated the winners with cash prizes. We gave cash prizes to more than 20 students,’’ the principal said.