Bhubaneswar, April 24: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report, carried on April 16 alleging that two girl students died after an iron gate of a Government primary school collapsed upon them in the Gajapati district on April 15. 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.

The Commission sought a detailed report from the Chief Secretary and Gajapati Collector on the matter within two weeks.

“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,” said an NHRC communique.

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.

For the context, two girl students Beckylesh Raita (10), a Class V student, and Idanti Raita (9), a Class IV student of Govt Primary School, Rubudisingh were killed on April 15 after an iron entrance gate along with its supporting column of the school collapsed on them when the girls were playing near the entrance gate after classes ended.

They were trapped under the debris and were rescued by locals and rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared them dead.

Expressing grief over the incident, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi ordered a Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC)-level inquiry to probe the circumstances leading to the tragedy. The RDC (Southern Division) is conducting the inquiry.

The CM also announced an ex-gratia assistance of Rs 3 lakh each from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) to the families of the deceased.