In a shocking incident during Saraswati Puja celebrations on Friday, two Class IX students of Tikabali Government High School in Kandhamal district were allegedly found intoxicated and lying unconscious near the Tikabali Post Office. Both students were in their school uniforms when local residents discovered them and alerted the school authorities.
The students were immediately rescued and admitted to Tikabali Community Health Centre for treatment, where medical examinations confirmed excessive consumption of alcohol. After receiving medical attention, they were returned to the school, and their parents were informed.
The incident has sparked concern and debate over student indiscipline, as well as how minors managed to obtain alcohol while wearing school uniforms. The school headmaster stated that the students had taken advantage of the Saraswati Puja celebrations to step out and consume alcohol.
Local residents and authorities are now calling for stricter supervision of students during school events and hostel timings to prevent such incidents in the future.
