At least 110 teachers have now died of COVID-19 in southern India, prompting the Karnataka government to suspend Vidyagama classes from October 10.

The educational programme Vidyagama has allegedly led to the infection of countless teachers and students in the south Indian state.

Officials said the programme took all necessary precautions to avoid the infection from spreading in classes, which were held outdoors or in places with good ventilation.

The clip from a Vidyagama programme in Challakere on September 26 shows masked students in a small class. Their teacher is seen distributing hand sanitiser.

Schools across India were forced to close in a bid to halt the spread of the virus, leading many private institutions to switch to online learning.

To support poorer students, who are less likely to have access to the internet, officials launched the Vidyagama programme in August.

In the Belagavi district, 40 teachers have reportedly died from COVID, with other districts also reporting a rising number of deaths and infections.

At least 110 teachers died of Covid 19 virus forcing the suspension of a pandemic-time learning programme in India.

The programme named, Vidyagama, also allegedly led to the infection of countless teachers and students, in the South Indian state of Karnataka.

Officials said the programme took all precautions to avoid the infection from spreading in classes, which were directed to be held outdoors or places with good ventilation .

Videos from a Vidyagama programme in Challakere taluk shows students split into small groups in an outdoor classe. Social distancing is maintained and sanitisers and masks are extensively used.

After the Covid 19 pandemic forced the closure of schools and colleges in March, many private institutions switched over to online classes in India.

But the government schools failed to do so due to lack of resources. Poor students who typically studied in these institutions also lacked the devices and connectivity to access online classes.

To ensure that the poor students were not deprived of education, officials launched Vidyagama programme in August.

The programme ran into fierce resistance from parents, teachers associations and even opposition parties.

Though the government persisted, the mounting toll of teachers forced it to backtrack.

In Belagavi district alone 40 teachers reportedly died from Covid 19. With other districts also reporting a rising count of deaths and infections triggering an uproar, the government finally suspended it on October 10.