A serious wildlife incident was reported at Junior High School Harishankar in Pokhari, where two bears entered the school premises and attacked a Class 6 student. The situation could have turned fatal, but the courage and quick thinking of a Class 8 student, Divya, saved the child’s life.
According to school authorities, the incident occurred on Monday morning before classes had officially begun. Students were present in the school campus when two bears suddenly entered the premises, creating panic. During the chaos, a bear attacked Class 6 student Aarav, grabbed him, and dragged him towards nearby bushes.
While other students were left shocked and helpless, Class 8 student Divya acted with presence of mind. She immediately directed all students to move into a classroom to protect them from the larger bear, which attempted to reach the room and scratched the door with its claws. Despite the absence of an internal latch, students managed to hold the door shut from inside.
After securing the other children, Divya ran towards the bushes, raising an alarm and chasing the bear that had dragged Aarav away. Hearing the screams and noise, teachers and staff rushed to the spot. Amid the shouting and commotion, both bears fled towards the forest, leaving the injured student behind.
Aarav, who suffered claw injuries on his back, was later provided medical attention. He told teachers that he froze in fear after suddenly seeing the bear and was unable to react while being attacked.
Principal Upendra Sati confirmed that the bears returned to the school campus again in the evening, likely attracted by the smell of mid-day meal supplies. He said the food materials would now be shifted to another location to prevent further incidents. The school timing had already been changed to 10 am following a similar bear attack on a student last Saturday while he was on his way to school.
Forest department officials have been informed, and patrolling in the area has been increased. The incident has created fear among students, parents, and staff, but Divya’s bravery has been widely praised by teachers and villagers.
