Panic gripped Dahadaha village in Chhattisgarh’s Dhamtari district after 35 students at a local government middle school were found to have slashed their own hands. The shocking self-inflicted injuries, discovered weeks ago but now under intense scrutiny, have mobilized doctors, educators, and mental health experts in a bid to understand this mass outbreak of self-harm.
It all started with one vigilant parent noticing blade marks on their child’s hand. Despite questioning, the boy clammed up. A visit to school revealed the extent of the problem—classmates sported identical cuts. Shockingly, the tally reached 35 children, all from the same institution in Kurud block.
School authorities called in parents for a tense assembly, vowing to curb such dangerous behaviors. Yet, the kids’ reticence left everyone baffled. On February 16, specialized counseling targeted both students and families, while the Block Education Officer mandated heightened teacher oversight.
This isn’t just about cuts and bandages; it’s a red flag for deeper issues like stress, bullying, or undiagnosed psychological distress. Rural education systems, often under-resourced, face renewed criticism for failing to monitor student well-being. Investigators are digging into possible triggers, from classroom dynamics to external influences.
As the village reels, experts warn of a potential mental health crisis among schoolchildren. The ongoing probe promises clarity, but for now, the community grapples with fear. Strengthening counseling and safety measures could be the key to averting another such horror.