Press release

National Human Rights Commission

New Delhi: 24th April 2026

NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the reported death of two girl students after an iron gate of a government primary school collapsed upon them in the Gajapati district of Odisha

Issues notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of Odisha and the Superintendent of Police, Gajapati, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that two girl students died after an iron gate of a government primary school collapsed upon them in the Gajapati district of Odisha on 15th April 2026. Reportedly, the incident occurred when the girls were playing near the school entrance.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise serious issues of human rights violations of the victims. Therefore, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of Odisha and the Superintendent of Police, Gajapati, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks.

According to the media report, carried on 16th April 2026, the students were trapped under the debris. The locals rushed the victims to a nearby hospital, where the doctors declared them dead.

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