Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh) [India], November 2 (ANI): A Class 10 student, Gopika, who was allegedly attacked with a chainsaw inside her classroom at a Zilla Parishad High School in Rapthadu, is showing steady progress, with doctors planning to remove her ventilator support, Andhra Pradesh Education Minister Nara Lokesh said on Monday.
In a post on X, Lokesh said a panel of doctors had noted improvement in the student's condition and that she was conscious.
"Update: Good news on the recovering child in Manipal Hospital: The panel of doctors have noted steady progress. She is conscious and has been visited by her mother. As her condition continues to improve, doctors plan to remove ventilator support later this evening. We continue to pray for her steady recovery," Lokesh posted.
update: Good news on the recovering child in Manipal hospital: The panel of doctors have noted steady progress. She is conscious and has been visited by her mother. As her condition continues to improve, doctors plan to remove ventilator support later this evening. We continue to pray for her steady recovery.
— Lokesh Nara (@naralokesh) November 2, 2026
Gopika is undergoing treatment at Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru after the alleged attack inside her classroom at the school in Rapthadu.
On Sunday, Lokesh announced a trauma-response initiative for students affected by the incident.
In a post on X, Lokesh said a dedicated team of 20 mental health counsellors had been deployed to conduct door-to-door visits to the homes of all 32 students of Class 10-A, as well as girl students in Classes 8, 9 and 10.
"Following the deeply disturbing incident at Rapthadu, our priority is to ensure that every affected child feels safe and supported. We have deployed a dedicated team of 20 mental health counsellors who are visiting the homes of all 32 students of Class X-A, as well as girl students of Classes 8, 9 and 10. They are speaking with the children and their parents, offering emotional support and helping them cope with the trauma," Lokesh said.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday condemned the attack and directed the police to swiftly track down the accused and ensure the harshest legal punishment.
According to a statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), Naidu also spoke to the injured student over the phone in the presence of her mother. He assured her to "stay brave" and promised that the "accused would be caught and severely punished".
The student was allegedly attacked by a man inside her classroom at the school. Anantapur Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ashwin Manideep Kakumanu confirmed the incident on Saturday.
"An incident of an attack on a Class 10 girl student at a Zilla Parishad High School in Rapthadu, Anantapur district, has been reported. The accused allegedly attacked the student brutally with a saw inside the school classroom," the DSP said.
The accused in the Raptadu incident was arrested following an exchange of fire with police on the outskirts of the Atmakur forest area in Anantapur district, Superintendent of Police (SP) Jagadeesh said on Sunday.
The accused allegedly attempted to attack police personnel with a knife during the operation, injuring an inspector. Police subsequently opened fire, leaving the accused critically injured. He is undergoing treatment at GJ Chananthapuram, the SP said.
Providing details, Jagadeesh said the police had formed around 15 teams to trace the accused following the incident and had been working round the clock.
On Saturday morning, an intruder -- identified as a relative of the victim -- entered a Class 10 classroom during school hours and brutally attacked a female student with a wood-cutting saw/blade, injuring another classmate who tried to intervene. (ANI)
