Odisha's School and Mass Education Minister, Nityananda Gond, has promised severe consequences for officials responsible for a major travel mishap that left young state athletes returning from a national sporting event sitting near train toilets for hours.
Minister Orders Probe Into Travel Ordeal
The controversy erupted after eighteen students from various Odisha schools, who participated in the 69th National School Games 2025-26 in Uttar Pradesh, faced extreme discomfort during their rail journeys. Minister Gond, addressing the media on Tuesday, stated the matter was under his scrutiny and a detailed government probe is imminent. “Whoever is found guilty of not providing confirmed train tickets to the young athletes will have to face stringent action,” he declared.
A Harrowing Journey to and From the Nationals
The group, accompanied by two teachers and two coaches, had embarked on their trip to Balia, Uttar Pradesh, on December 6 aboard the Nandankanan Express from Bhubaneswar. Their troubles began early, with only four confirmed tickets for the outgoing journey, forcing many to sleep on the train floor.
The return journey on December 13 proved worse. None of their tickets were confirmed. The young wrestlers had no choice but to sit near the toilets for the entire journey until Hinjili station, where a Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) managed to arrange ten seats for them. A teacher, speaking anonymously, revealed they had sought help from UP Transport Minister Daya Shankar Singh, the chief guest at the meet, who assured assistance. “However, the tickets were not confirmed. Since the IndiGo crisis was going on then, the train was full, and we had to sit near toilets,” the teacher explained.
Department's Clarification and Political Backlash
Reacting to the outcry, the school education department issued a clarification. It stated that tickets for 18 athletes and 4 teachers in a 3-tier AC coach were booked on November 20 for the round trip. Despite sincere departmental efforts, the tickets could not be confirmed. The department claimed the decision to travel was made to ensure the students were not deprived of the national-level competition. To prevent future incidents, it has decided to hold a coordination meeting with railway authorities.
The incident has sparked political criticism. Odisha Congress chief Bhakta Das expressed shock and urged Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to intervene with the sports ministry. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) took to social media platform X, accusing the BJP government of insulting the state's pride-bringing players and revealing its “true face.”
The department has now sought a detailed report from the director of secondary education as the investigation into the embarrassing logistical failure begins.
