Sounds of anklets, laughter: 608 students flee hostel amid ghost rumours
The concerning episode began after some girl students complained of hearing unusual sounds inside the hostel, including the jingling of anklets, laughter and crying.
A suspected case of mass hysteria has surfaced at a government-run boarding in Maharashtra's Amravati district, where rumours of ghosts and supernatural activity have triggered fear among students and prompted hundreds of them to leave the hostels and return home.
The concerning episode began after some girl students complained of hearing unusual sounds inside the hostel, including the jingling of anklets, laughter and crying. As the word spread, fear among the students intensified.
According to parents, around 608 students – 263 boys and 345 girls – have since returned home. School headmaster, Sanjay Chaudhary said the complaints prompted the management to get the girls examined by a psychiatrist.
"Some girl students complained of hearing the sound of anklets and sounds resembling laughter and crying. We took the girls to a hospital and had them examined by a psychiatric doctor. After the examination, the doctor said the symptoms could be associated with a condition such as severe hysteria," he said.
He added that the students are being counselled and reassured as part of efforts to alleviate their fears and restore a sense of confidence.
A local Health Officer, Abhishek Naidu, also appealed to students and parents not to link the incident to ghosts or any supernatural phenomenon.
"This is related to a mental health condition. There is nothing else involved. People should not spread rumours. Children and their parents do not need to panic," he said.
The administration said that necessary steps are being taken to ease the students' fears and prevent any disruption to their education.
The Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti, a voluntary outfit dedicated to eradicating harmful superstitions and rituals, has also joined the efforts to counsel the fear-stricken children.
A suspected case of mass hysteria has surfaced at a government-run boarding in Maharashtra's Amravati district, where rumours of ghosts and supernatural activity have triggered fear among students and prompted hundreds of them to leave the hostels and return home.
The concerning episode began after some girl students complained of hearing unusual sounds inside the hostel, including the jingling of anklets, laughter and crying. As the word spread, fear among the students intensified.
According to parents, around 608 students – 263 boys and 345 girls – have since returned home. School headmaster, Sanjay Chaudhary said the complaints prompted the management to get the girls examined by a psychiatrist.
"Some girl students complained of hearing the sound of anklets and sounds resembling laughter and crying. We took the girls to a hospital and had them examined by a psychiatric doctor. After the examination, the doctor said the symptoms could be associated with a condition such as severe hysteria," he said.
He added that the students are being counselled and reassured as part of efforts to alleviate their fears and restore a sense of confidence.
A local Health Officer, Abhishek Naidu, also appealed to students and parents not to link the incident to ghosts or any supernatural phenomenon.
"This is related to a mental health condition. There is nothing else involved. People should not spread rumours. Children and their parents do not need to panic," he said.
The administration said that necessary steps are being taken to ease the students' fears and prevent any disruption to their education.
The Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti, a voluntary outfit dedicated to eradicating harmful superstitions and rituals, has also joined the efforts to counsel the fear-stricken children.
A suspected case of mass hysteria has surfaced at a government-run boarding in Maharashtra's Amravati district, where rumours of ghosts and supernatural activity have triggered fear among students and prompted hundreds of them to leave the hostels and return home.
The concerning episode began after some girl students complained of hearing unusual sounds inside the hostel, including the jingling of anklets, laughter and crying. As the word spread, fear among the students intensified.
According to parents, around 608 students – 263 boys and 345 girls – have since returned home. School headmaster, Sanjay Chaudhary said the complaints prompted the management to get the girls examined by a psychiatrist.
"Some girl students complained of hearing the sound of anklets and sounds resembling laughter and crying. We took the girls to a hospital and had them examined by a psychiatric doctor. After the examination, the doctor said the symptoms could be associated with a condition such as severe hysteria," he said.
He added that the students are being counselled and reassured as part of efforts to alleviate their fears and restore a sense of confidence.
A local Health Officer, Abhishek Naidu, also appealed to students and parents not to link the incident to ghosts or any supernatural phenomenon.
"This is related to a mental health condition. There is nothing else involved. People should not spread rumours. Children and their parents do not need to panic," he said.
The administration said that necessary steps are being taken to ease the students' fears and prevent any disruption to their education.
The Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti, a voluntary outfit dedicated to eradicating harmful superstitions and rituals, has also joined the efforts to counsel the fear-stricken children.
