5 Students Detained After Blast Plot Targets Teacher in Chhattisgarh School, Injures Young Girl
The students (3 girls and 2 boys) hatched the plan after watching a social media video demonstrating sodium’s explosive reaction to water.
A shocking incident has rocked a private school in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur district, where five students from Classes VIII and IX allegedly planned a sodium blast in a school washroom to target a teacher, only for it to grievously injure an unintended victim - a nine-year-old girl. The bizarre plot, uncovered on Monday, has led to the detention of four of the students, with authorities still seeking the fifth, as investigations reveal a chilling tale of juvenile mischief fueled by online inspiration.
The incident unfolded last week on February 21, when the nine-year-old girl entered the washroom and triggered an explosion by flushing the toilet. Unbeknownst to her, the students (three girls and two boys) had planted a small amount of sodium, a highly reactive chemical, in the cistern. The blast occurred when the sodium came into contact with water, leaving the girl with severe chemical burns across her body. School staff, alerted by the explosion and her screams, broke down the locked door to find her slumped over in critical condition. She was rushed to a hospital, where she remains under treatment, her parents reeling from the trauma.
Bilaspur Superintendent of Police Rajnesh Singh described the case as “very strange,” noting that CCTV footage provided crucial evidence in identifying the culprits. The students, reportedly upset with a teacher over unspecified grievances, hatched the plan after watching a social media video demonstrating sodium’s explosive reaction to water. One of the group ordered the chemical online using a relative’s account, and the others planted it in the washroom, intending to catch the teacher off guard. However, their scheme went horribly awry when the younger student became the victim instead.
Four of the accused have been detained and sent to juvenile rehabilitation homes, where they will undergo counseling, while the fifth, currently at a relative’s house, is expected to be brought before the Juvenile Justice Board soon. The police are probing how the minors accessed the sodium, spotlighting gaps in online chemical sales regulations. “Such chemicals aren’t easily available in stores or labs, and there are strict guidelines for their sale,” Singh said, adding that further inquiries are underway.
The blast has sparked outrage among parents, who are demanding accountability and threatening protests if justice isn’t served. A parallel investigation by a team led by the district education officer, including school principals, is also examining the incident’s broader implications. The victim’s parents have lodged an FIR, expressing disbelief at the turn of events that endangered their daughter’s life.
This disturbing episode has raised alarm bells about the influence of online content on impressionable minds and the safety measures in schools. As the community grapples with the fallout, the focus now shifts to ensuring the injured girl’s recovery and preventing such reckless acts in the future. (with inputs from PTI)
