Bear Found Sleeping Inside Koraput School, Sparking Panic in Lamtaput

A bear was found sleeping inside a school building in Koraput district, Odisha, on Thursday evening. School authorities immediately evacuated students and staff, and local police were called to secure the premises.

Wildlife officials from the Odisha Forest Department were dispatched to the site to assess the situation and safely remove the animal. The bear was later captured and transported to a nearby wildlife sanctuary for observation.

The incident triggered panic in the nearby town of Lamtaput, where residents fled their homes fearing a potential attack. Police set up a temporary cordon and conducted a sweep of the surrounding area.

No injuries were reported, and the school has been temporarily closed while authorities conduct a safety audit. The Forest Department has urged residents to stay away from forest fringes until the bear is relocated.

Officials say the bear likely entered the school through a broken fence and had been hiding in a storage area before being discovered.