Clarification on video showing young wrestlers from Odisha facing hardship during their train journey  

Bhubaneswar, December 2025 : Taking serious note of a viral video showing young wrestlers travelling near toilet in the train, the School and Mass Education department has called for detailed report from the Director, Secondary Education.

It is reported that 18 young wrestlers and 4 teachers were allowed to participate in the 69^th National School Games in Wrestling (Free Style) U-17 Boys &Girls Championship 2025-26 at Ballia, Uttar Pradesh. Accordingly, tickets for 18 young wrestlers and 4 teachers were booked in 3 tier air-conditioned coach on November 20, 2025 to travel to Balia and back to Bhubaneswar. However, despite sincere efforts by the department, tickets could not be confirmed. In order to ensure that the young wrestelers were not deprived of participating in the national level championship and to provide them an opportunity to showcase their talent, they were taken to Ballia, UP.  

Despite of best efforts of the department and approaching the organising committee of the National Championship, return journey tickets could not be confirmed and the students and the staff travelled by Nandankanan Express requesting TTE to provide available berths.  Subsequently, the TTE has provided 10 berths near Hinjili, Kolkata.

It is further informed that during the current year, a total of 385 players under the School and Mass Education Department have travelled outside Odisha to participate in 19 different national levelcompetitions, bringing laurels to the State.

To prevent such incidences in the future, the department has decided to hold a coordination meeting with railway authorities.

IPR – Odisha