Maharashtra school students flee hostel amid mass hysteria rumors

Over 600 students have evacuated a government-run ashram school in the Melghat region of Maharashtra’s Amravati district following reports of mass hysteria and supernatural rumors. The panic began when several female students experienced episodes of uncontrollable laughing, crying, and numbness. Some students also reported hearing the sound of jingling anklets in empty corridors, which fueled rumors of a ghostly presence.

In response to the growing anxiety, 608 students—comprising 345 girls and 263 boys—left the hostel to return to their homes. Medical professionals and school officials have dismissed all supernatural claims. Taluka Medical Officer Dr. Abhishek Naidu identified the incident as mass psychogenic illness, a mental health condition triggered by severe stress and anxiety.

School headmaster Sanjay Chaudhari confirmed that affected students underwent psychiatric evaluations and that the school has initiated a counseling process to reassure the student body and restore a sense of safety on campus.