The police in Juba said they are investigating a heartbreaking incident that occurred at Darling Wisdom Academy, where a 19-year-old female student tragically lost her life after being struck by an electrical cable in the girls' dormitory on Thursday night.

Maj. Gen. Daniel Justin, a spokesperson for the South Sudan National Police Service, told Radio Tamazuj that the incident occurred at approximately 9:30 p.m. He said that despite immediate efforts by fellow students and the school administration to provide first aid and transport her to the hospital, the young woman sadly passed.

"It was yesterday (Thursday) at around 9:30 p.m. that we got a report that a 19-year-old girl was struck by electricity in the boarding school," Justin stated. "People tried to escort her to the hospital, but she passed away on the way."

The student's identity has been respectfully withheld to honour the family's request for privacy during this time of mourning.

Gen. Justin said the South Sudan National Police Service has taken swift action, as the case has been opened at Mouna Police Station to investigate the circumstances of the electrocution thoroughly.

"The case has been opened at Mouna Police Station, and we are now investigating how it happened. The police will establish if there was any neglect by the school administration. Negligence by law is a crime,” he added.

Justin said the focus of the investigation would be to determine whether there was any negligence on the part of the school's administration, as such oversight is considered a criminal offence under the law.

The loss has deeply affected the community of Darling Wisdom Academy and the wider city of Juba, who are united in grief.

As the investigation continues, the incident highlights the urgency for educational institutions to review and reinforce their electrical safety protocols to prevent such tragedies in the future.