CHAMOLI: Fear and panic gripped in Chamoli district after a bear entered a government school campus and dragged a child out of his classroom in a shocking incident on Monday. The child survived the attack after teachers and fellow students intervened, but the incident has intensified concerns over growing human–wildlife conflict and the safety of schoolchildren in forest-fringe areas.
Our correspondent reports that the incident occurred at a junior high school located in a remote hilly area of Chamoli district, where wildlife movement has been frequently reported in recent weeks. According to officials, the bear entered the school premises during school hours while classes were underway, triggering chaos among students and staff.
Eyewitnesses said the animal moved towards classrooms and forcefully entered one of the rooms, where it grabbed a student studying in Class VI. The bear reportedly dragged the child outside the classroom towards nearby bushes before teachers and other school staff raised an alarm and rushed to the spot. Their collective response forced the animal to retreat back into the forest.
The injured child sustained claw marks and wounds on different parts of his body and was immediately given first aid before being shifted for medical treatment. Officials said the child is undergoing treatment and is out of danger, though he remains traumatised by the incident.
Videos recorded by school staff showed terrified children screaming and taking shelter as the bear roamed the school premises. The footage has since circulated widely, drawing attention to the vulnerability of educational institutions located close to forest areas.
Forest department officials confirmed that this was the second bear attack linked to the same school within a short span of time. Just days earlier, another student from the school was attacked by a bear while returning home after classes. Although that child escaped with relatively minor injuries, the recurrence has heightened anxiety among parents and residents.
A teacher at the school said the incident has left students and staff deeply shaken. “The fear among children is overwhelming. Despite earlier incidents, adequate protective measures were not put in place. Today, a child was pulled out of a classroom. This is extremely alarming,” the teacher said.
Our correspondent adds that parents have expressed serious concern over the lack of boundary walls, fencing and security arrangements at the school. Many have questioned how classes can continue under such circumstances and have demanded immediate intervention by the administration.
Following the incident, forest guards were deployed in the area, and officials said temporary arrangements have been made to escort children to and from school. Authorities have also begun patrolling nearby forest patches to track the movement of the bear involved in the attack.
Forest officials said repeated bear sightings have been reported in nearby villages, where residents depend on forest routes for daily activities such as farming and collecting fodder. In another incident in the same region, a woman collecting grass in the fields was attacked by bears and suffered serious injuries, further highlighting the severity of the situation.
Experts say increased wildlife movement towards human settlements is often linked to habitat disruption, food scarcity and shrinking forest corridors. They have stressed the need for both immediate safety measures and long-term planning to prevent such incidents.
Our correspondent reports that local residents and school authorities have urged the government to take urgent steps, including installing solar fencing, constructing high boundary walls around schools, deploying trained forest personnel and setting up early warning systems in wildlife-prone areas.
Parents have also demanded that schools located near dense forest areas either be temporarily closed or allowed to operate with adjusted timings until permanent safety infrastructure is put in place. Many families said they fear sending their children to school under current conditions.
In recent months, Uttarakhand has witnessed a sharp rise in incidents involving bears, leopards and other wild animals entering villages and public spaces. The state government has earlier announced plans to address human–wildlife conflict through improved monitoring, rescue mechanisms and preventive infrastructure.
Our correspondent adds that officials have assured local communities that stronger measures are being planned, including the use of technology-based alert systems and increased coordination between forest officials and local administrations. However, residents say immediate ground-level action is crucial to restore a sense of security.
The latest incident has once again brought attention to the fragile balance between human habitation and wildlife in the Himalayan region. Environmental experts caution that without proactive intervention, such encounters are likely to increase, especially in areas where schools, homes and farmlands are located close to forest boundaries.
For families in the affected areas, the attack has left a deep psychological impact. “Every day we send our children to school hoping they return safely. Now even classrooms are not safe,” said a parent whose child studies at the school.
As forest officials continue to track the animal and strengthen patrols, residents remain on edge, demanding concrete action to ensure that children can attend school without fear. The incident stands as a stark reminder of the urgent need to prioritise safety infrastructure in wildlife-sensitive zones across the state.
Dheeraj reports on governance, public services, jobs, and regional developments across Uttarakhand. He specialises in recruitment news, public-sector updates, and civic issues that impact everyday citizens. His reporting brings accuracy, context, and a grassroots perspective to local journalism.
