1 hr ago
Gujarat School Children’s Shaking Linked to Group Behavior, Officials Say
Eleven children at a residential school in Gujarat suddenly began shaking during morning prayers.
The unusual behavior appeared to spread from one child to several others.
Teachers moved the children to safer rooms and called ambulances.
The children were taken to hospitals for checks.
Doctors found no signs of food poisoning or another physical illness.
A psychiatrist also spoke with them and found their responses satisfactory.
Some people believed the children were possessed, but health officials rejected that explanation.
Officials said the children may have copied behavior they saw in one another or elsewhere, and they returned to school normally.
Eleven children at a residential tribal school in Narmada district reportedly began shaking and behaving unusually during morning prayers on September 9.
The children were taken to local medical facilities and Rajpipla Civil Hospital after teachers called ambulances.
District health officials said examinations found no food poisoning, physical illness, or evidence of supernatural causes.
Rumours circulated that the children were possessed by “Hanuman Dada” or had reacted to something they ate.
Officials suggested the behavior may have spread through imitation in a group setting, and the children later returned to school.
- Who
- Eleven children at the Moskut Ashramshala, along with school staff, health officials, and medical personnel.
- What
- The children reportedly shook and displayed unusual movements one after another during a morning prayer assembly.
- Where
- Moskut Ashramshala in Dediapada, Narmada district, Gujarat, with the children later taken to Rajpipla Civil Hospital.
- When
- The incident allegedly occurred on September 9; examinations and assessments followed the next day and afterward.
- Why
- Health officials said the behavior may have spread through imitation in a group setting; they found no evidence of food poisoning, physical illness, or supernatural causes.
Rumors and Local Beliefs
Medical and Administrative Findings
Cause of the behavior
Rumors and Local Beliefs
Rumours suggested the children were possessed by “Hanuman Dada,” while others suspected something they had eaten.
Medical and Administrative Findings
District health officials said there was no evidence of supernatural causes or food poisoning and suggested the children may have imitated one another in a group setting.
Interpretation of the children’s condition
Rumors and Local Beliefs
Videos and reports of the episode led some local people to describe the children as being in a trance or experiencing convulsions.
Medical and Administrative Findings
Medical examinations found the children healthy, and psychological assessments did not indicate mental illness or another identified disorder.
Key facts
- Children involved
- 11
- School
- Moskut Ashramshala, a residential school for children from tribal communities
- Incident date
- September 9
- Initial setting
- Morning prayers assembly
- Medical findings
- Children were assessed as physically healthy, with no evidence of food poisoning
- Psychological assessment
- A psychiatrist spoke with the children and found their responses satisfactory
- Current status
- The children returned to school and continued their studies normally
Quotes
Kalpana Vasava
Assistant teacher at the Moskut Ashramshala
“It was time for our daily prayers assembly. One girl went to drink water. While returning, she was initially walking slowly and then she suddenly started sweating and shaking unnaturally. When we saw her, we picked her up and brought her to the girls’ room.”
indianexpress.com
“Their medical assessments did not indicate food poisoning or any other physical illness. The children were also assessed from a psychological perspective. They are all fine.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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