Class-II Student Spends Entire Night Trapped in School Window

Class-II Student Spends Entire Night Trapped in School Window

 CNB World Times

Keonjhar, Odisha, 23rd August 2025: In a shocking incident, a Class-II tribal girl student remained trapped in the window railing of her classroom for nearly 18 hours after being accidentally locked inside a government-run primary school in Keonjhar district.

The incident took place at Anjara UGME School under Talakainsari GP near Sanaghagara on NH-49. The girl, identified as Jyotsna Dehuri, a resident of Patharibada village, fell asleep inside her classroom on Thursday, August 21, 2025, due to sickness. Unaware of her presence, the teachers locked the classrooms after school hours.

When Jyotsna woke up, she found herself alone inside the dark classroom. Frightened, she cried and shouted for help, but her voice did not reach outside. As the evening turned into night, she grew more desperate. Hungry, weak, and suffering from fever, she tried every possible way to escape, including attempting to squeeze through the narrow window railing.

Another challenge arose at night when hunger struck. The little girl cried out pitifully for her mother, calling again and again, but no reply came for the helpless child. Despite the odds, she made one last desperate attempt to save herself. She opened the window and shouted for help, yet there was no response from the outside world. Refusing to give up, she tried to widen the iron railing with her soft, tender hands—something impossible even for an older student.

With no other choice, she decided to squeeze through the narrow gap between the railings. First, she pushed her legs through and managed to pull the rest of her body out. Slowly, she slipped her hands and torso outside the classroom. Just as freedom seemed near, her head got stuck between the iron bars. She struggled hard, twisting and pulling, but her efforts were in vain. The tender skin of her neck and head became bruised and scratched as she tried for hours to free herself from the railing. She remained trapped in that position throughout the night, enduring heavy rain, mosquito bites, and severe pain.

Meanwhile, her parents, who initially assumed she might be at a neighbor’s house, began searching frantically when she did not return home. The search continued late into the night without success.

The next morning, when the school gate opened, the family rushed inside and were shocked to find Jyotsna hanging outside the classroom window with her head trapped in the railing. With the help of locals, the iron bars were widened, and the child was rescued. She was rushed to Kendujhar hospital with severe neck injuries and multiple bruises.

Soon, angry villagers gathered at the school and held the teachers responsible for negligence. Local officials, including Tahasildar Banshapal, Bikash Chandra Sahoo, police officer Amit Kumar Bhuina, and Suakati outpost in-charge Surya Routray, reached the spot to pacify the situation.

Following public outrage, the Education Department suspended headmaster Gourahari Mahant and sought clarification from other staff members for negligence of duty. Guardians also expressed fear and hesitation in sending their children back to the school.

Local residents demanded strict action against the school authorities to ensure such incidents are not repeated. Many villagers said Jyotsna had a narrow escape not just from injuries but also from the danger of stray dogs and wild animals at night.

An eight-year-old tribal girl’s night-long struggle for survival has raised serious questions about safety and responsibility in Odisha’s schools.