PTC Web Desk: A six-year-old boy died at a private school in Andhra Pradesh after he allegedly collapsed in his classroom following an assault by a teacher, the police said.

The incident came to light after a video of the classroom reportedly surfaced online on Thursday. The footage shows the kindergarten student standing near the teacher's desk with a slate while his homework was being checked.

The child appears to be upset and crying in the video. The teacher can then be seen handling his uniform before allegedly slapping him. Moments later, the boy suddenly collapses and falls unconscious.

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The teacher is seen trying to revive him before other school staff members rush into the classroom.

School staff and others immediately took the boy to a hospital for treatment. However, doctors declared him dead.

The police said the circumstances surrounding the child's death are being investigated.

A police official said the boy collapsed in the classroom following an alleged assault by the teacher and later died.

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Following the incident, the boy's family members staged a protest. They alleged that the child suffered a fatal collapse after experiencing extreme fear and distress during the alleged assault.

The exact medical cause of death will be established through the ongoing investigation and other required procedures.

Andhra Pradesh Education Minister Nara Lokesh described the incident as deeply distressing and said action would be taken against those found responsible.

The minister also said that the school management would face action if found to have been at fault.

Lokesh expressed condolences to the child's parents and said the government would support the family.

Three-member panel formed

The School Education Department said it took the matter seriously and ordered an inquiry soon after the incident.

According to the department, officials conducted a preliminary inquiry and submitted a report. A three-member committee has now been formed to examine the circumstances surrounding the child's death.

The panel includes the Visakhapatnam Regional Joint Director, District Education Officer and Revenue Divisional Officer.

The department also said steps would be taken to conduct sensitisation programmes for teachers so that children are treated with greater care, responsibility and sensitivity.

The police have registered a case under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which relates to inquiries into suspicious or unnatural deaths.