Panic gripped a government secondary school in Dhamtari, Chhattisgarh, after 35 students simultaneously slashed their wrists in a bizarre and terrifying mass incident. The event has ignited outrage and triggered an official inquiry into potential lapses by school administration.
Education authorities wasted no time, slapping a show-cause notice on Principal Punnet Ram Sahu for failing to prevent the self-mutilation that left parents horrified. The cuts, all on the left wrists using sharp implements, were discovered weeks ago but have only now exploded into public scrutiny.
It all started with a single parent’s alarming discovery: their child’s wrist marred by a fresh blade wound. The silent child offered no explanation, prompting a school visit that uncovered a chilling collective act among classmates.
Chaos ensued as word spread. School management hastily organized a parent-teacher huddle to address the anomaly and deter future occurrences. Meanwhile, a multi-agency response kicked in—doctors examined the injuries, counselors delved into psyches, and officials documented every detail.
Counseling drives on February 16 targeted the affected children and their guardians, aiming to unpack the psychological triggers. Yet, the ‘why’ hangs unanswered: group hysteria? Hidden trauma? External influence?
The fallout continues, with the district vowing punitive action against negligence. This incident exposes raw vulnerabilities in rural schooling—insufficient monitoring, limited mental health resources, and unchecked peer dynamics. Parents remain on edge, pleading for ironclad protections. Chhattisgarh’s schools now face a reckoning, where student well-being must trump all.