Nuapada, (OT Webdesk) — A tragic incident has shaken the quiet corridors of Sahajat Ashram School in Komna block, Nuapada district, after the lifeless body of 13-year-old Ashwini Bandichhor, a resident Class 8 student, was discovered hanging from a Mahua tree just 30 meters from the school premises.
The grim discovery, made around 10 PM on Wednesday, has ignited deep concern among locals and raised pressing questions about student safety and the conditions within residential educational institutions.
Local police officials, including Nuapada SDPO Swadhin Mishra and medical staff, indicated that a rope was found tied around the child’s neck — pointing to hanging — but they stressed that the circumstances remain unclear.
In a written complaint filed at Komna Police Station, Ashwini’s father, Tulsidas Bandichhor, stated his son had been unwell, suggesting the possibility of a medical cause over suicide or external foul play.
Authorities have launched a full-scale technical investigation exploring medical history, the school environment, and any potential contributing factors.
This tragedy casts a sombre light on the mental health and well-being provisions in residential schools, urging a wider conversation around policy, parental engagement, and institutional accountability.
