Nearly 600 tribal students reportedly left a government-run residential school hostel in Maharashtra’s Amravati district after rumours circulated that some female students had been “possessed”. Officials have now clarified that there was no supernatural cause, with medical examinations pointing instead to psychological stress.
The school, located in Doma village of Chikhaldara taluka in the tribal-dominated Melghat region, accommodates around 810 boys and girls under the Tribal Development Department.
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The incident came to light on July 22, when several girl students reportedly began crying and laughing uncontrollably, leaving other students and staff alarmed.
Medical Team Rules Out Supernatural Claims
Following the incident, a mental health team from Amravati District General Hospital visited the school and examined the affected students.
Doctors observed symptoms including persistent crying, fear, sadness, memory loss and physical pain in six female students. Medical assessments subsequently identified the condition as Dissociative Conversion Disorder, in which psychological stress can manifest through involuntary physical or neurological symptoms despite no corresponding structural abnormality being found in medical tests.
According to the medical report, academic pressure, psychological stress and the influence of surrounding events could have contributed to the symptoms.
An official said the condition had nothing to do with supernatural forces and could be linked to a stress-related, hysteria-like response.
Students Receiving Treatment and Counselling
The affected students are currently being treated separately, while their parents have also been provided counselling.
As rumours of a supposedly haunted hostel spread, nearly 600 students left the premises, highlighting the extent to which fear and misinformation had affected the school community.
Additional Commissioner (Tribal Development) Sandeep Golait has appealed to students, parents and the public not to believe or circulate rumours surrounding the incident.
Members of the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti (ANIS), an organisation working to counter superstition and blind faith, also visited the school and counselled the students.
Authorities Plan Student’s Return
Officials are now working to bring the students back to the residential school. Golait said efforts would be made to ensure that all students return within eight days, with support from the Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti, the school administration and the principal.
Amravati MP Balwant Wankhade has also appealed to the students not to be frightened and encouraged them to return to their classes.
Authorities hope that counselling, medical support and awareness efforts will help dispel the rumours and restore a sense of safety among the students.
(Inputs from NDTV)
Edited by: Moonmoon Borah
