Wild bears enter Nuapada Science College campus; second sighting in a week triggers panic

Panic gripped students and local residents after three wild bears were seen roaming inside the Science College campus in Nuapada district headquarters on Sunday evening.

According to sources, the animals were spotted around 5 pm moving across the campus grounds, prompting several people to alert the Nuapada Forest Division. The incident prompted locals to flee their homes and seek shelter at a crowded spot on the street.

Several locals attempted to drive away the animals with loud sounds on speakers and by banging utensils. However, the bears did not disperse even as the crowd of onlookers grew in size.

Forest Officials Respond

A forest team reached the college shortly after receiving the information. Officials used loudspeaker announcements to caution residents, instructing them to remain indoors and avoid approaching the animals.

The department said the three bears were safely driven back toward the nearby forest area. No injuries or damage were reported during the operation. Forest staff maintained a presence in the locality for several hours to prevent crowding and to ensure the animals did not re-enter the premises.

Recent Railway Station Incident Adds To Concern

The college sighting comes just days after a similar incident at the Nuapada railway station, where three bears appeared on the platform at around 4:26 AM on November 13. Railway staff and early morning passengers reported that the animals wandered briefly before moving away from the station complex.

Authorities had alerted the forest department following the incident, and advisories were issued urging passengers to remain cautious during late-night and early-morning travel in forest-adjacent zones.

Sources cited officials who said that sporadic bear movement toward inhabited areas is possible in the district’s forest fringe zones, particularly during early hours when animals search for food.

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Meanwhile, the department has stepped up patrolling near the college and railway station areas and asked residents to immediately report any fresh sightings.