A recent incident at an Andhra hostel has left students and parents unsettled. Concerns have been raised after the braids of ten girl students staying at a hostel in Visakhapatnam were mysteriously cut during the night while they slept.
As per reports, the students went to bed on a school night in their hostel dormitory, surrounded by classmates and behind a gate with a watchwoman on duty. But when they woke up the next morning, their hair was noticeably shorter than when they had gone to sleep.
While this may sound like something straight out of an urban legend, the incident has turned the spotlight on how safe these institutions really are. School-run hostels carry an even greater responsibility, since their wards are often young children whose parents have entrusted the institution with their safety.
What Happened At The Hostel?
On the morning of Sunday, September 20, 2026, around ten Class IX students of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) came forward to report that their hair had allegedly been cut while they were asleep the previous night.
The residential school is located in Krishnapuram village in Bheemunipatnam (Bheemili) mandal of Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh.
KGBVs are government-run residential schools, set up under a centrally sponsored scheme, specifically for girls from disadvantaged and marginalised communities.
According to reports, the incident took place across two rooms shared by around 38 Class IX girls. Six of the 20 students in one room and four of the 18 in the other were affected.
Read More: This Assam School Does Not Charge Its Fees In Monetary Form
Dr J. Chandrasekhar Rao, Additional Project Coordinator of Samagra Shiksha, Visakhapatnam, told TOI that he had visited the school soon after being informed of the incident. He maintained that there was no possibility of an outsider entering the hostel.
Bheemili MLA Ganta Srinivasa Rao, who also visited the school on Sunday, said, “There is very little possibility of someone from outside entering the hostel. CCTV footage should reveal more details.”
Rao also met the students, parents and management, and called for a detailed investigation into the matter.
Bheemili Police Inspector G. Divakar told reporters that the police and school authorities had counselled the affected students and were investigating the circumstances of the incident.
Officers have recorded statements from the girls and the staff, and are going through the CCTV footage available on campus.
Administrative action is also underway, with show-cause notices issued to four staff members, including the principal, the teachers on duty and the night watchwoman, over lapses in supervision. Counselling sessions for the students have also begun.
This is also not the first time a KGBV in Andhra Pradesh has been at the centre of a hair-cutting row. In November 2024, the principal of the KGBV in G. Madugula, Alluri Sitharama Raju district, cut several girls’ hair as punishment for arriving late to the morning assembly.
B. Srinivasa Rao, State Project Director of Samagra Shiksha, told PTI at the time, “Yesterday (Monday), we conducted an inquiry, and late at night (Monday), the collector issued suspension orders.”
The suspension order recorded that the principal had admitted to cutting some students’ hair and that the allegation had been proven prima facie.
Whether the culprit turns out to be an outsider, a fellow student or a staff member, the girls deserve answers quickly. Until then, the incident is a reminder that a locked gate and a watchwoman on duty mean little without proper supervision inside the hostel, and that the children in these schools deserve to feel safe where they sleep.
Image Credits: Google Images
Sources: The Hindu, The New Indian Express, Deccan Chronicle, The Times Of India
Find the blogger: @chirali_08
This post is tagged under: Andhra Hostel, Andhra Hostel incident, hair cutting incident, KGBV, KGBV hostel, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya Krishnapuram, Visakhapatnam
Disclaimer: We do not own any rights or copyrights to the images used; these images have been sourced from Google. If you require credits or wish to request removal, please contact us via email.
Other Recommendations:
Who Are The Students Caught In The Satya Niketan Building Collapse Tragedy?
