02-23-2009, 02:55 PM
By Prem Kumari Ghale
LAMJUNG, Feb 22 - Mass hysteria has been stalking classrooms of Adarsha Secondary School here in Karkidanda of Chiti VDC of the district for over a month.
Girl students of class one to 10 have been frequently fainting ââ¬â inside the school premises and sometimes in the classroom as well when classes are in progress. This has been adversely affecting school activities.
Over 50 percent of the total 400 students are girls.
Principal Chandra Bahadur Basnet says many of the girls have been collapsing at the same time, almost daily.
ââ¬ÅWe invited doctors and local shamans to look into the matter, but to no avail,ââ¬Â said Dhan Bahadur Kutal, Chairman of School Management Committee.
According to him, the girls cry and murmur with their body shivering and complain that they were being possessed by Naag (Snake God) and other evil spirits as soon as they reach school. "And suddenly they fall unconscious and sometimes that lasts for over 15 minutes."
According to guardians, their wards do not show such symptoms at home.
Jagatnath Tiwari, doctor at the District Community Hospital, said that it was a psychological problem and not the deeds of any gods or spirits.
"The affected students must be counseled," he added.
Two years ago, girls
in this school had suffered similar problems which prompted closure of the school for over a week.
http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=181574
LAMJUNG, Feb 22 - Mass hysteria has been stalking classrooms of Adarsha Secondary School here in Karkidanda of Chiti VDC of the district for over a month.
Girl students of class one to 10 have been frequently fainting ââ¬â inside the school premises and sometimes in the classroom as well when classes are in progress. This has been adversely affecting school activities.
Over 50 percent of the total 400 students are girls.
Principal Chandra Bahadur Basnet says many of the girls have been collapsing at the same time, almost daily.
ââ¬ÅWe invited doctors and local shamans to look into the matter, but to no avail,ââ¬Â said Dhan Bahadur Kutal, Chairman of School Management Committee.
According to him, the girls cry and murmur with their body shivering and complain that they were being possessed by Naag (Snake God) and other evil spirits as soon as they reach school. "And suddenly they fall unconscious and sometimes that lasts for over 15 minutes."
According to guardians, their wards do not show such symptoms at home.
Jagatnath Tiwari, doctor at the District Community Hospital, said that it was a psychological problem and not the deeds of any gods or spirits.
"The affected students must be counseled," he added.
Two years ago, girls
in this school had suffered similar problems which prompted closure of the school for over a week.
http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=181574