Two Bears Invade Chamoli School; Brave Student Saves Classmate from Attack

Chamoli, Uttarakhand: In a shocking and terrifying incident at Junior High School Harishankar in Pokhri, Chamoli district, two bears entered the school premises on Monday morning, putting students in grave danger. During the intrusion, a bear lifted a sixth-grade student, Arav, but quick thinking and bravery by eighth-grade student Divya Chaudhary saved his life. Following the incident, the school declared a precautionary holiday until 25 December.

Chaos Erupts Around 9:30 AM
According to reports, the bears appeared around 9:15 AM as students were arriving. Screams of panic erupted among the children. Eighth-grader Divya immediately assessed the situation, raised an alarm, and instructed students to run into their classrooms. One of the bears attempted to break down a classroom door and struck with its paws.

Student Carried Away by Bear
During the chaos, the bear grabbed sixth-grader Arav and took him to nearby bushes, where the second bear was also present. Showing remarkable courage, Divya ran toward the bear while shouting loudly. Startled by her actions, the bear released Arav and fled toward the forest. Teachers, led by Upendra Sati, reached the scene in time and helped drive the bears away from the school campus.

Physical Injuries and Trauma
When Arav was rescued from the bushes, scratch marks from the bear’s claws were visible on his body. Thanks to Divya’s bravery and the teachers’ vigilance, a major tragedy was averted. Students present at the school were visibly shaken, and several children were seen crying. Parents have expressed deep concern for the safety of their children.

Previous Bear Encounters
Teacher Upendra Sati noted that this was the third bear-related incident involving students. Just two days earlier, another student at the same school had been attacked by a bear while walking, but was saved when a fellow student scared the animal away with a stone. Bears have frequently been sighted near the school, creating ongoing fear in the area.

Forest Department Takes Safety Measures
Following the incident, forest officials, villagers, and parents arrived at the school to assess the situation. To ensure children’s safety, two local villagers have been employed on a temporary allowance to escort students to and from school. The school administration has declared a holiday until 25 December as a precautionary measure against further bear encounters.