Nagpur Boy Found Safe in Locked School After Night-Long Search
A routine afternoon for a Nagpur family turned into a harrowing ordeal when their four-year-old son went missing, only to be discovered safe the next morning, asleep inside a locked classroom at his own school. The incident has raised serious questions about safety protocols in educational institutions.
The Disappearance That Sparked Panic
On Wednesday afternoon, four-year-old Himanshu Bagde, a playful balwadi student, left his home in Borkar Layout to play near his school, located just half a kilometre away. According to his father, Vishwajit Bagde, "He left home around 5:30 PM to play, and by late evening, we couldn't find him anywhere." As hours passed without any sign of the child, the family's concern quickly escalated into genuine fear.
Unbeknownst to anyone, young Himanshu had wandered into a classroom while playing. The school staff, unaware of his presence, later locked the premises without conducting a final check. This oversight would trigger a massive search operation and a night of anguish for the Bagde family.
Intensive Police Search Operation Launched
Alarmed by their son's disappearance, the Bagde family approached Khaparkheda police and filed a missing child complaint. "At first, we were worried about the possibility of abduction," Vishwajit Bagde admitted, recalling the anxious hours that stretched into the night.
The police registered a kidnapping case based on the complaint and immediately launched an intensive search operation under the supervision of senior inspector Harish Roomkar and zonal DCP Sandeep Pakhale. The search involved:
- Multiple police teams scouring residential areas and nearby schools
- Checking Anganwadi centres, rivers, and under-construction sites
- Extending the search to neighbouring towns including Koradi, Kamptee, and Saoner
- Reviewing CCTV footage from the area
- Circulating photographs through media channels
Despite these exhaustive efforts, Himanshu remained elusive. Senior inspector Roomkar noted, "We were baffled as CCTV footage could not provide any clue. A last-seen witness had merely spotted Himanshu playing behind his home in the late afternoon."
The Unexpected Discovery
The breakthrough came unexpectedly on Thursday around 10 AM, despite it being a school holiday on account of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti. A woman staff member visited the school at Khaparkheda, on the outskirts of Nagpur, to oversee some construction work.
To her astonishment, she discovered Himanshu asleep inside the locked classroom. She immediately informed the police, who rushed to the scene. "It was a huge relief. He was safe and unharmed," said Roomkar. The boy was immediately reunited with his overjoyed parents, who expressed heartfelt gratitude to the police for their tireless efforts throughout the night-long search.
School Safety Concerns Raised
While the incident ended happily, it highlighted significant lapses in school safety protocols. Zonal DCP Sandeep Pakhale emphasized the need for greater vigilance, urging all school staff and employees to take proper precautions when closing premises.
"Before locking classrooms, staff must ensure no child remains inside," Pakhale stated. "The school and surrounding area should be carefully checked, and any suspicious objects or persons should be reported to the police."
For the Bagde family, the scare served as a stark reminder of how quickly a playful child can be placed in danger, but also highlighted the community's role in ensuring safety. "We are just grateful our son is safe," Vishwajit Bagde said, holding Himanshu close. "And we hope schools take every step to prevent such incidents in the future."
The incident has prompted discussions about implementing stricter safety measures in schools across the region, with authorities emphasizing the importance of thorough checks before locking educational facilities.
