Nagpur: A four-year-old boy who went missing on Wednesday evening was found alive nearly 18 hours later inside a locked classroom of a Zilla Parishad school in Khaparkheda, triggering massive relief after an overnight search operation.

The child, Himanshu Vishwajit Bagde from Borkar Layout under Chincholi Gram Panchayat limits, had stepped out to play around 5.30 pm but did not return home. His family alerted police after searching the neighbourhood.

Khaparkheda police led by Harish Rumkar, along with a team from the Nagpur Crime Branch, senior officers, dog squad, forensic experts and local volunteers launched a large-scale search. The sniffer dog tracked a trail up to a drain nearly 200 metres from the house, briefly raising suspicion of foul play.

The breakthrough came around 10 am on Thursday when a staff member at Ranchhoddas Zilla Parishad Primary School opened a locked room and found the boy inside. He had remained trapped overnight in an anganwadi classroom after the premises were locked.

Preliminary inquiry revealed discrepancies in timelines given by the anganwadi worker and the child’s mother, prompting a broader probe. Police later found that the boy, though not formally enrolled, regularly visited the school for meals. He allegedly entered the classroom while staff were occupied, and the door was locked from outside unknowingly.

The child was medically examined and declared safe before being handed over to his parents. Police have issued a stern warning to the mother over alleged negligence.

Authorities confirmed that the abduction angle has been ruled out. However, the incident has highlighted serious concerns over parental supervision and institutional vigilance.