A heartbreaking tragedy has gripped Bhubaneswar after the body of a seven-year-old Class 2 student was discovered floating in a water fountain inside the police reserve campus near Acharya Vihar.
Shreyanshi Singh, a pupil of DM School under the Regional Institute of Education, went missing during playtime on Wednesday. Her lifeless body was later found in the restricted police grounds, triggering widespread outrage, parental protests, and serious questions about both school security and police vigilance.
Family members and the Odisha Parents’ Association have accused the school of negligence that cost the young girl her life. On Thursday, more than 20 parents stormed the campus, demanding strict action against anyone found responsible. They questioned how a child could leave the school premises unnoticed, cross multiple points, and enter the heavily staffed police reserve area.
Police from Sahid Nagar police station have launched an investigation. They have sealed both entrances to the reserve grounds, deployed security personnel at the main gate, and restricted public access. CCTV footage reportedly shows the girl leaving the school and entering the reserve campus. Yet critical questions remain unanswered: Why did she go there? Who allowed her entry? Why did no one notice her for hours despite the presence of scores of police personnel? And why has the reserve’s own CCTV footage not been shared publicly?
The investigating officer has remained largely tight-lipped, telling media only to “write what you see” while declining detailed comments. This silence, combined with the sudden sealing of gates that previously appeared poorly guarded, has fueled suspicions that authorities are attempting to downplay their own role.
Meanwhile, the school’s acting principal, Professor Manasi Goswami, has publicly admitted negligence. “Such an incident occurred due to negligence. We will ensure it never happens again,” she said. A letter from the Delhi headquarters has directed the school to provide a full account. A fact-finding committee has been formed, and a meeting with parents has already taken place. The principal confirmed that the child had studied at the institution since kindergarten and that the school community is deeply grieved. A report is expected to be submitted to Delhi within a day. CCTV review is underway to pinpoint responsibility; the girl had not swiped her ID card.
Odisha Parents’ Association president Basudev Bhatta has been blunt: “CCTV monitoring failed. The child crossed two school gates and three traffic points. There was complete negligence by security staff—and even inside the police barracks. Firm action is needed against those responsible.”
As the investigation continues, one painful question dominates every conversation in the city: Who failed seven-year-old Shreyanshi—the school that lost track of her during playtime, or the police reserve that failed to notice a child wandering into its grounds until it was too late? The answers may determine whether this tragedy leads to lasting reforms in child safety or simply fades into another forgotten case file.
