In Odisha, eight hostel students had to be rushed to the hospital after their classmates put glue in their eyes while they were sleeping. Thankfully, doctors say the children are safe. But this incident is not something we can forget and move on from. It needs serious attention.

How could something like this happen inside a school hostel?

The Odisha Incident

The case happened in a government hostel in Odisha. It was nighttime when some of the children were fast asleep. A few mischievous classmates squeezed glue into their eyes.

When the children woke up, they complained of their eyes burning. Teachers quickly took them to the hospital. Thankfully, none of the children had serious damage. But will the children forget the trauma they went through in those few hours?

Why Would Kids Do This?

Children do pranks, but this is getting cruel. What would have made the children do this?

• Curiosity without understanding consequences.
• In hostels, children sometimes follow what one child starts just to ignore the fear of being left out.
• Lack of supervision can be another reason. Without enough adults around at night, children can take risks.
• Some children just do extreme things just to get noticed.

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What Hostels Can Do to Prevent Such Incidents

1. A stronger night supervision is required. Ensure there are enough staffs at night to keep an eye on children.
2. Have regular sessions to teach children about the dangers of misusing everyday items and make them understand how their actions affect others.
3. Create an ecosystem where children can report bullying without fear.
4. Provide access to counsellors so children can talk about stress and conflicts.

What Can Parents Do

Let’s understand - children who hurt others are not bad kids. They are kids who need guidance.

Talk openly with children and tell them why hurting others is NOT okay.

Teach them about the real dangers of playing with harmful things like glue, blades or fire.

When you talk about hostel life, don’t just ask about marks, talk about their friends and the surroundings.

Safety is not just about locked gates and CCTV cameras; it is also about raising children who care for each other.