Nabarangpur: A 10-year-old student was found dead at a private school hostel in Nabarangpur district, prompting a probe that has uncovered serious irregularities in its operation.
The deceased, identified as Lipsa Kandhapan, daughter of Babula Kandhapan of Jhadiaguda village in Koraput district, was a Class II student of Podaluguda Upgraded High School and stayed at the Miracle Boarding School hostel in Purnapaniguda village under Podalaguda panchayat of Nandahandi block.
According to reports, Lipsa had dinner and went to bed Monday night but did not wake up the next morning. Hostel director Jerimaya Hial rushed her to the district headquarters hospital (DHH), where doctors declared her dead. Hial later said the child had been suffering from fever for two days.
Following the incident, a team comprising District Child Protection Officer Suresh Pattnaik, Nandahandi BEO Srikanta Jani, ADEO Keshab Meher, Child Welfare Committee Chairperson Ajanta Priyadarshini, member Santosh Sarangi, Child Helpline representative Chinmayee Nayak, and N. Narayan Bisoi visited the hostel for an inquiry.
Preliminary findings revealed that the hostel, run by the Miracle Charitable Society, was operating without official permission or registration at its current location. The society is registered in Taragaon village of Nabarangpur but had shifted to Purnapaniguda without notifying authorities, as required by law.
Officials said the facility lacked basic documentation and infrastructure — no attendance registers, no health records, and no medical equipment, not even a thermometer. About 60 students — 25 girls and 35 boys — were staying there without regular medical check-ups or supervision during their daily 1-km walk to school. The premises were unfenced and failed to meet basic safety norms. Teachers from Podaluguda High School were present during the inspection.
The inquiry team has submitted its findings to the district collector, and further administrative action is expected.