In a shocking incident from India’s Keonjhar district, a Class 2 student spent an entire night trapped inside her classroom with her head stuck between iron window railings after the school was locked for the day.
Student Locked in School Overnight
The seven-year-old girl, identified as Jochna Dehuri, was attending classes at Anjar Government Upper Primary School in Banspal block on Thursday. Around 4:00 PM, school staff locked the building, unaware that Jochna had fallen asleep under the last bench.
When she woke up later, she found herself locked inside the empty school. In an attempt to escape, she tried squeezing through a window. But her head got stuck between the iron bars, leaving her trapped and struggling through the night.
Her worried family searched the village after she failed to return home, but they could not find her. It was not until the next morning, around 9:00 AM, that the school cook unlocked the building and discovered the terrified child. Villagers and family members rushed to free her by prying open the bars.
An eight-year-old girl had her head stuck through the window railings during her desperate attempt to escape as she was left stranded inside her classroom in Odisha's Kenjhar district after school authorities locked the premise without checking. She remained there the entire… pic.twitter.com/wBUZcqFn89
— The Hindu (@the_hindu) August 22, 2025
Jochna was taken to the district headquarters hospital, where doctors confirmed she was safe and recovering. Officials later reported that she is now back home and out of danger.
Following public outrage, the School and Mass Education Department suspended the in-charge Headmaster, Gourahari Mahamanat, for negligence. Teacher Sanjita Dash explained that heavy rainfall and a hurried closure of the school at 4:10 PM contributed to the oversight.
Also read Married Women Employees Will Now Be Posted With Husbands
The incident has sparked criticism of school authorities for their lack of vigilance. With many calling for stricter safety measures to ensure that such negligence does not happen again.
