Maharashtra Hostel Ghost Mystery: Truth Behind 610 Students Leaving Campus (Img: AI Genrated)
Amravati: A government tribal residential school in Maharashtra’s Amravati district became the centre of a mysterious scare after rumours of ghosts and supernatural activities spread among students and villagers. The panic led more than 600 students to leave the hostel, with parents taking their children back home amid fears about their safety.
The incident took place at Shaskiya Madhyamik Va Uchha Madhyamik (Kala va Vigyan) Ashram Shala Doma, a government tribal residential school in Doma village of Chikhaldara taluka. Established in 1979, the school has around 852 students.
The situation began when some girl students reportedly started crying, laughing uncontrollably and fainting without any apparent reason. As similar incidents were reported among more students, rumours of ghost possession and a local belief called “chakwa” began spreading in nearby villages.
Some students claimed they heard the sound of anklets inside the hostel, further intensifying fears among residents and parents.
Within days, hundreds of families arrived at the hostel and took their children home, creating panic around the institution.
A health team sent by the Maharashtra government examined the affected students and found no evidence of any supernatural activity.
According to officials, the symptoms were linked to psychological stress and a condition described as “selective hysteria”. Experts explained that such symptoms can spread among groups when individuals observe similar behaviour in others.
Dr Swati Sonone, psychiatrist and head of the District Mental Health Programme, said such cases require counselling and awareness among students and families.
During the investigation, several explanations emerged behind the rumours.
Some students and villagers believed that spirits lived in an old mahua tree, which was cut down by the school management. They believed the removal of the tree disturbed supernatural forces.
Another theory linked the incident to a drainage channel near a temple, while some connected it with the death of an Adivasi youth near the school premises.
Investigators found that some families had taken affected students to traditional healers, known locally as bhumkas, who reportedly attributed the incidents to a supernatural phenomenon called “chakwa”.
Members of the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (ANIS) visited the area and interacted with students and families.
Activists said several girls who were believed to be affected appeared normal during their visit, with some involved in daily activities like cooking and farm work.
They also pointed out that overcrowded rooms and poor ventilation at the hostel could contribute to stress and psychological difficulties among students.
Following the incident, teachers, health officials and administration teams began counselling students and parents to restore confidence.
Headmaster Sanjay Chaudhary said efforts were being made to bring students back to the hostel. Some students have already returned, while counselling sessions continue.
The incident has highlighted how fear, rumours and social beliefs can influence communities during unexplained events, while experts continue to stress the importance of awareness, mental health support and scientific understanding.
