Bhubaneswar, Jul 30: Bhubaneswar witnessed a shocking incident on Wednesday when the body of a six-year-old girl, a Class II student, was recovered hours after she went missing during her lunch break.
The victim, identified as Shriyanshi Singh, was a student of a government school near Acharya Vihar, close to Nicco Park.
According to reports, Shriyanshi slipped out of the school gate during the lunch recess. When her absence was noticed, her parents lodged a complaint with Saheed Nagar police.
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Multiple teams were deployed, and CCTV footage from the school was examined. A marathon search operation was launched using VHF communication, with three police teams scouring the area.
By evening, Shriyanshi was found unconscious in a water pond inside the police reserve campus located behind the school. She was rushed to Capital Hospital in critical condition, but doctors declared her dead.
Her parents and relatives have alleged negligence on the part of the school authorities. They questioned how a six-year-old child managed to leave the campus, cross three busy traffic points, and reach the police reserve area without being stopped.
Shriyanshi's tiffin box was later found near Science Park, raising further questions about her movements.
Her uncle accused the school of failing to ensure basic safety, stating, "The school gate was open. From 1:30 pm she was missing. Later, her body was found in the police reserve pond. The authorities are responsible for her death."
The incident has triggered outrage, with parents demanding accountability and stricter safety measures in schools.
Police have initiated an investigation to determine how the child managed to leave the premises and reach the restricted area. Meanwhile, the shocking death has raised broader concerns about student safety in government schools across the state.