Trying to escape locked classroom, Odisha girl survives night stuck in window

An eight-year-old tribal girl remained stuck in the window of her classroom all night in a desperate attempt to escape after the school authorities left her behind and inadvertently locked the premises in Odisha’s Keonjhar district.

The incident happened at the Government Upper Primary School in Anjar, about five kilometres from Keonjhar district headquarters. On Thursday (August 21, 2025), when school hours ended, teachers locked the classrooms in a hurry and left the premises, unaware that Jyotsna Dehury, a Class II student, was still inside and fast asleep.

When Jyotsna woke up, she found herself alone in the deserted school. Frightened, she panicked and tried to escape. She attempted to squeeze through the iron railings of the classroom window. While her body slipped out, her head got stuck between the bars. Trapped in that position, she remained stuck the entire night, helpless in the pounding rain and the lurking fear of wild animals.

Worried, Jyotsna’s parents, both daily wage workers, searched for her the entire night, but in vain. When the school reopened on Friday (August 22, 2025) morning, they were horrified to find the little girl hanging through a window’s railing. Villagers who rushed to Jyotsna’s rescue bent the iron bars and freed her. She was taken to the Keonjhar District Headquarters Hospital where doctors examined her before being handed over to her parents.

“It was sheer neglect on the part of the teachers and staff. They should have ensured no child was left behind. One can only imagine how my little daughter spent the night,” said Jhunu Dehury, Jyotsna’s mother.

“The girl had fallen asleep inside the classroom, which was locked without proper checking. The incident is unfortunate,” said Sanjita Dash, a teacher from the school, admitting the lapse.

The episode sparked outrage in the community. The school’s headmaster, Gourahari Mohanta, was suspended for negligence.