Bhubaneswar, Dec 24: A shocking incident has taken place in Odisha where athletes travelling to the National Wrestling Championship were sitting next to the toilet of the train.
18 young wrestlers from Odisha, who were supposed to travel to Uttar Pradesh to compete in the 69th National School Wrestling Championship, traveled by sitting next to the toilet. A video of the athletes traveling by sitting next to the toilet of the train is going viral on social media.
Due to administrative lapses in the Odisha State School and Mass Education Department, the athletes were forced to travel by sitting next to the toilet as the tickets of the athletes were not confirmed.
A team comprising 10 male and eight female students was sent to the national level match without railway tickets and they were forced to travel in general categories.
According to the allegations, the athletes were made to sit near the train toilets in the extreme cold of winter. This has raised serious concerns about their safety and health. They have faced the same situation not only while going there but also while returning there. No confirmed tickets have been arranged for either leg of the journey.
In the video that has gone viral, some athletes are seen sitting on their luggage, wearing blankets from head to toe to protect themselves from the cold.
Other athletes are seen resting on their luggage with their heads bowed. Videos showing athletes sitting near train toilets have gone viral on social media, causing widespread outrage.
Same situation on return
The players' ordeal is not over yet.. Their situation is the same on return too... Even the return tickets of the players have not been confirmed.. Hence, the players had to return in the same miserable condition on their return.
Responding to this, the Assistant Director of the Odisha Sports Authority has alleged "management error".