Odisha Government Orders Probe After Student Athletes Made to Travel Near Toilets Due to Unconfirmed Train Tickets

The Odisha School and Mass Education Department on Monday ordered an inquiry into an incident in which school students were reportedly forced to sit near toilets during a train journey due to the absence of confirmed tickets, while returning from the 69th National School Games in Uttar Pradesh.

A total of 18 student athletes—10 boys and eight girls—from various schools across the state, accompanied by four teachers, were deputed by the department to participate in the National School Games held from December 8 to 12 in Uttar Pradesh. The group travelled from Bhubaneswar to Ballia on December 5 and began their return journey on December 14.

According to students and parents, the travel arrangements were poorly managed, resulting in significant hardship. Parents alleged that during the onward journey, only four tickets had been confirmed, forcing students to adjust by sharing seats or sleeping on the floor of the general compartment. The situation reportedly worsened on the return leg, when none of the tickets were confirmed.

As a result, students and teachers were compelled to sit near the toilets in a general compartment for a major portion of the journey, from Uttar Pradesh to Hinjili in Ganjam district. “At Hinjili, a travelling ticket examiner, who himself was a sportsperson, noticed our condition and asked about our tickets. Taking sympathy, he arranged seats for us in different compartments till Bhubaneswar,” said one of the girl athletes, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Parents strongly criticised the department for what they described as gross negligence, particularly in the case of girl students. “If tickets for ministers and officials can be confirmed even hours before travel, why couldn’t the same be ensured for children officially sent by the government to represent the state?” asked Sanjeev Patnaik, a parent from Sambalpur.

Responding to the outrage, a senior official of the School and Mass Education Department said an explanation has been sought from the Director of Secondary Education regarding the failure to secure confirmed tickets. The department has also decided to hold discussions with railway authorities to ensure confirmed reservations for students travelling for competitions in the future.

The incident has sparked concern over student safety and welfare during official travel, prompting calls for stricter accountability and improved coordination between departments.