Sounds of anklets, laughter: 608 students flee hostel amid ghost rumours

In the remote village of Doma, located in the Melghat region of Maharashtra’s Amravati district, over 600 students from a government-run ashram school fled their hostel last week, sparking widespread concern and speculation. The exodus was triggered by reports that some female students were laughing uncontrollably, then fell silent, prompting fears of supernatural forces at play. Local authorities and medical professionals later attributed the incident to mass hysteria, describing it as a psychological condition known as mass psychogenic illness. At least 608 students, comprising 263 boys and 345 girls, returned home, accompanied by their families, who feared the school grounds were haunted. The episode reportedly began more than a week ago when 16 students started exhibiting strange behaviour, including episodes of crying, laughing, and becoming unresponsive. Some claimed to hear the sound of ghungroos, traditional ankle bells worn during festivals. These accounts quickly spread through the hostel corridors and into the surrounding villages, fueling growing unease. Parents, alarmed by the developments, urged their children to leave the school, leading to a mass exodus. The situation escalated further as rumors of ghostly presence gained traction, particularly among the tribal community, which dominates the area. State officials, including the tribal commissioner Leena Rathod, visited the village to assess the situation. She confirmed that the incidents were not linked to supernatural causes but rather to a psychological phenomenon. Dr. Abhishek Naidu, the taluka medical officer, explained that stress and anxiety, exacerbated by poor living conditions, likely contributed to the outbreak of mass psychogenic illness. He noted that the school’s management had failed to address early signs of distress, allowing fear to take hold. According to officials, the school suffers from chronic issues, including overcrowded classrooms, substandard food, and inadequate sanitation facilities. The school’s headmaster, Sanjay Chaudhari, denied claims that the incident was connected to the cutting down of a mahua tree, a sacred plant in local folklore, on the school grounds. He clarified that the tree had been removed six years prior. Despite these denials, many parents remained unconvinced, citing the sudden and inexplicable nature of the students’ behaviour. To address the crisis, a team from the Akhil Bharatiya Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti, an organization focused on eliminating harmful superstitions, arrived at the school to provide counseling to affected students. Local health officials have called for calm, urging both students and parents to avoid linking the incident to supernatural causes. Dr. Naidu emphasized that the condition was purely psychological and that there was no evidence of any external influence. He also warned against the spread of misinformation, stressing that such rumors can exacerbate the problem. Meanwhile, the school administration has pledged to improve its infrastructure and implement better mental health support systems to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Efforts are underway to reassure the students and their families, with counselors working to dispel fears and restore normalcy. The Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti has also launched a broader campaign to educate the community about mental health and combat superstitions. As the situation continues to unfold, officials remain committed to addressing the root causes of the crisis and ensuring the well-being of the students.