A six-year-old boy died inside a classroom in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, after a female teacher allegedly slapped him for failing to complete his homework and answer questions, according to local reports.

The incident took place at around 9 a.m. on Thursday, August 20, at Little Gardens School in the One Town area of Visakhapatnam.

The child, identified as Pranay Teja, was a UKG student at the school.

According to police and eyewitnesses, the teacher became angry after the child failed to complete his homework from the previous day and could not answer questions in class. She allegedly slapped him and attempted to humiliate him in front of his classmates.

CCTV footage from the classroom reportedly shows the teacher pulling the child’s shirt before slapping him. Immediately afterward, the child lost consciousness, first collapsing against the teacher and then falling to the floor.

The boy was quickly taken to the nearby King George Hospital. Doctors declared him brought dead.

Doctors initially suspected that the child may have died from a cardiac arrest or respiratory failure triggered by severe fear or physical trauma. However, the exact cause of death has not yet been confirmed.

Visakhapatnam police have registered a case in connection with the incident. The child’s body has been sent for a post-mortem examination to determine the precise cause of death.

Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the child’s death and the alleged assault inside the classroom.