Student Severely Injured in Hostel Cooking Accident
A young student at a tribal boys' hostel in Chhattisgarh's Bastar district is fighting for his life after suffering severe facial burns from boiling oil. The incident occurred at the Barda village hostel in Bakawand block when Tuman Bhadre was forced to prepare meals for fellow boarders due to the prolonged absence of both the hostel superintendent and cook.
Negligence Leads to Tragedy
According to eyewitness accounts and local reports, the accident happened when hot cooking oil spilled on Bhadre while he was attempting to cook food for other students. The absence of regular staff members left the young residents with no choice but to handle dangerous cooking tasks themselves. Locals immediately rushed the severely injured boy to the district medical college in Dimrapal, where doctors confirmed his condition remains serious and treatment is ongoing.
Students revealed this was not an isolated incident but part of a persistent pattern of neglect. The hostel superintendent and cook were frequently absent from their duties, regularly forcing children to fend for themselves in the kitchen. This systematic negligence has raised serious questions about the safety standards and study environment in residential institutions meant to protect tribal children.
Official Response and Immediate Actions
Following public outrage after the accident came to light, local officials from the tribal development department visited the hostel. Assistant Commissioner G S Sori announced the immediate removal of hostel superintendent Sonadhar Goyal from his position. The cook responsible for the absence has been served a show-cause notice and must provide a formal explanation for abandoning his duties.
However, local residents and parents have accused authorities of attempting to cover up the incident, prompting demands for a comprehensive inquiry. The village sarpanch and community members are calling for stricter supervision of all residential hostels to prevent similar tragedies from recurring.
Broader Implications for Tribal Hostels
Authorities have confirmed that a formal probe will investigate the negligence, chronic absenteeism among staff, and overall safety arrangements at the tribal hostel. This unfortunate incident has reignited urgent calls for better staff accountability and independent inspections of tribal hostels across the region.
The case highlights how children's education and safety in these institutions depend heavily on the presence and performance of caretaking staff. Without proper supervision and responsible adults present, students are left vulnerable to accidents and other dangers that could easily be prevented with adequate staffing and oversight.
