At least 18 school-level wrestlers from Odisha allegedly endured humiliating and unsafe travel conditions while journeying to and from Uttar Pradesh to participate in the 69th National School Wrestling Championship. The incident, which has triggered widespread outrage, came to light after a video showing the athletes seated near a train toilet went viral on social media.

Athletes Sent Without Proper Arrangements

The contingent, comprising 10 boys and eight girls, was sent by the State School and Mass Education Department along with four teachers. However, officials admitted that only four athletes had confirmed train tickets for the onward journey. The remaining players were forced to travel in general compartments, sitting on the steel floor near the toilet area in freezing winter conditions.

Disturbing Scenes Captured on Video

In the viral footage, the young wrestlers are seen huddled together with their luggage, wrapped in layers of clothing to shield themselves from the cold. Some athletes were seated on their bags, while others rested their heads on luggage due to lack of space. The narrow area near the toilet, often unhygienic and used as a passage between coaches, further worsened their ordeal.

All the students and teachers had to sit near the toilets of the general compartment from Uttar Pradesh to Hinjili in Ganjam district. “At Hinjili, the TTE, who himself was a sportsperson, saw us sitting near the toilets and inquired about the tickets. He took sympathy at our condition and offered us seats in different compartments of the train till Bhubaneswar,” said a girl, requesting anonymity.

Return Journey Equally Harrowing

The situation reportedly deteriorated on the return journey from Uttar Pradesh on December 14, as none of the tickets were confirmed. Students and teachers had no choice but to sit near the toilets throughout the long journey until a sympathetic Travelling Ticket Examiner intervened at Hinjili station and arranged seats in other compartments till Bhubaneswar.

Parents came down heavily on the department for letting the students travel without confirmed tickets. “If tickets of ministers and officials travelling in trains can be confirmed even a few hours before their travel, why could the same not be done for the children who were sent by the department itself? Even girls had to travel in harrowing conditions,” said a parent, Sanjeev Patnaik of Sambalpur.

Parents, Officials Raise Questions

Parents slammed the department for alleged mismanagement, questioning why confirmed tickets could not be arranged for students representing the state. An assistant director from the Odisha Sports Authority termed the incident a clear administrative failure.

Responding to the uproar, the School and Mass Education Department has ordered an inquiry and sought explanations from senior officials. The department also plans to coordinate with railway authorities to ensure confirmed tickets for students travelling for competitions in the future.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates.

App Store – https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share