A tragic incident unfolded in Kandhamal district when a teacher collapsed and died of a heart attack while teaching students at Ganjhu Primary School under Gochhapada Panchayat.
The deceased has been identified as Krushna Chandra Sahu, the in‑charge headmaster of the school.
According to reports, Sahu arrived at school as usual on Thursday morning. Around 10 am, he conducted a drill session with students. Shortly after, while taking attendance and beginning lessons in the classroom, his health suddenly deteriorated. He lost consciousness and collapsed in front of the students.
Frightened children raised an alarm, and villagers rushed to the school. Since no ambulance could reach the remote Pakari area due to a lack of road connectivity, locals hired an auto and shifted the unconscious teacher to the Balandapada Primary Health Centre. However, doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Police from Gochhapada station reached the medical facility, seized the body, and sent it to Phulbani District Headquarters Hospital for post‑mortem. Officials confirmed that further investigation is underway.
Sahu, a native of Malisahi village in Nayagarh district, had been serving in Kandhamal since 2004. For the past four years, he worked as headmaster at Ganjhu Primary School. Known as a dedicated and amiable teacher, he had earned respect across the Phiringia block.
News of his death spread quickly, casting a shadow of grief over the teaching fraternity. Education officials, including Group Education Officer Alok Kumar Pradhan, Additional G.E.O. Sanjay Kumar Behera, and Block Education Office staff, visited the hospital to console the bereaved family. Local leaders such as BJP youth president Babulal Kahnar and former Phulbani MLA Angad Kahnar also expressed condolences.
Meanwhile, villagers voiced concern that the absence of road connectivity prevented timely ambulance access. Many believe that if an ambulance had reached the school in time, Sahu’s life might have been saved.
