Published Nov 01, 2026 | 5:38 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 01, 2026 | 5:39 PM
Nara Lokesh with the girl's parents at Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru.
Synopsis: Education Minister Lokesh said the next 48 hours would be crucial for the girl injured in a chainsaw attack. The minister met the doctors attending to her at Manipal Hospital and reviewed her condition. He said the Andhra Pradesh government would ensure the girl’s continued treatment and rehabilitation.
The condition of a Class 10 student, injured in a chainsaw attack at her school, remained critical, Andhra Pradesh Education and IT Minister Nara Lokesh told reporters after meeting the doctors treating her at the Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru.
The next 48 hours would be critical, he said on Sunday, 1 November, and appealed to people across Andhra Pradesh to pray for the girl’s recovery. Calling her “our daughter”, he said she needed everyone’s support and prayers during this difficult time.
Lokesh said the incident occurred around 10 am when a man entered the government school at Rapthadu in Anantapur, and attacked the girl with a chainsaw.
The girl, who suffered serious injuries, including a severed arm and fractures to the skull and ribs, was shifted to the Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru on Saturday nig.ht
Another student, who intervened, also sustained injuries.
The girl was initially taken to a government hospital. Once fit to be transferred, she was shifted to Manipal Hospital, where she underwent a 12-hour surgery.
Assuring the girl’s family of complete government support, Lokesh said the incident was extremely unfortunate and should not be politicised. He emphasised that ensuring the girl’s healthcare, continued treatment, and subsequent rehabilitation was both the government’s and his personal responsibility. He acknowledged that the incident had highlighted the need to strengthen existing safety systems and processes further.
Lokesh assured that stronger preventive measures would be put in place to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in Andhra Pradesh.
Issuing a stern warning against harassment and indecent behaviour towards women, Lokesh said anyone making inappropriate remarks or behaving indecently towards women in Andhra Pradesh would face severe consequences. He assured that strict action would be taken against everyone responsible for the Rapthadu school attack and that nobody involved would be spared.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
