In a bid to avoid school, eight-year-old boy threatens to jump off water tank

Vijayawada: It's common for children to refuse to go to school. Some skip food while others wander on streets but an 8-year-old boy in Andhra Pradesh created a scare by threatening to jump from a water tank.

The incident occurred in Mantralayam town in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday. Viresh, a Class 3 student, climbed on 40 feet high water tank and threatened to jump to death, if his parents forced him to go to school.

The boy's threat created panic and parents were worried that he might resort to the extreme step.

He finally came down after police arrived on the scene and persuaded him to do so.

The boy's parents work as construction labourers in Bengaluru and had left the boy at his grandfather's house.

On a visit to home town, the parents learnt that the boy was not going to school. They scolded him and forced him to attend the classes on Monday.

However, on Tuesday morning when the parents asked him to get ready for school, he ran out and climbed on the water tank by steps.

The locals were shocked as to how this idea came to a young boy.

Police later counselled the boy in the presence of his parents. They offered help in admitting the child to a residential school.