KENDRAPADA: A Class IV student of a government-run school in Jajpur district died after a teacher allegedly forced him to do sit-ups as a form of punishment on Tuesday, triggering a probe by the district administration.The deceased, Rudra Narayan Sethi (10), was a student of Surya Narayan Nodal Upper Primary School in Orali.

On Tuesday, he and seven other students had forgot to bring books to school.“As a result, teacher Jyotirmayee Panda ordered them to do sit-ups for a few minutes.

While doing the sit-ups, Rudra collapsed.

He was taken to the nearby community health centre at Rasulpur.

Doctors there referred him to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack on Tuesday evening, where he was declared dead,” said Pramila Panda, the headmistress of the school.On Wednesday, additional block education officer Pravaranjan Pati went to the school to investigate the matter.

“We will soon submit the report to the district administration.”When contacted, Jajpur district collector Chakravarti Singh Rathore said, “We will take action once we get the report.”