In a disturbing incident from Keonjhar district, India, a seven-year-old Class 2 student, Jochna Dehuri, spent the entire night locked inside her classroom after school staff unknowingly closed the premises while she was asleep under a bench.
The incident occurred at Anjar Government Upper Primary School in Banspal block on Thursday evening when the building was locked around 4:00 PM. Jochna’s family launched a frantic search across the village when she did not return home but were unable to locate her.
Upon waking, the child attempted to escape by squeezing through the classroom window. While she managed to push her body through, her head got stuck between the iron bars, leaving her trapped and struggling overnight.
She was finally discovered around 9:00 AM the next morning by the school cook, who unlocked the building and found her in distress. Villagers rushed to free her by prying open the iron bars, after which she was taken to the district headquarters hospital. Doctors confirmed she was out of danger and she has since returned home.
The shocking negligence sparked public outrage, leading the School and Mass Education Department to suspend Headmaster Gourahari Mahamanat. Teacher Sanjita Dash later explained that due to heavy rain, the school was locked hastily at 4:10 PM, and the child—who had fallen asleep—was overlooked.
Authorities assured that the matter is under investigation and strict action will follow to prevent such incidents in the future.
