'Girls laugh, cry, then go numb': 608 flee Maha school amid 'mass hysteria'

According to the Times of India, over 600 students have fled an ashram school in Doma village, located in the Melghat region of Maharashtra, following an outbreak of what officials have identified as mass psychogenic illness. Students reportedly experienced episodes of laughing fits, crying, and numbness, which many interpreted as being caused by spirits, leading to widespread panic among the student body and their families.

Local authorities and health officials have characterized the incident as a collective stress reaction rather than a supernatural occurrence. Investigations into the school's environment have pointed toward significant management failures, including severe overcrowding and inadequate sanitation facilities. These conditions, according to reports, have created a high-pressure environment that contributed to the students' heightened anxiety and subsequent behavioral symptoms.

In response to the incident, district officials have announced plans to launch awareness campaigns throughout the region to address and combat superstitious beliefs. The government is also reviewing the operational standards of the Doma village ashram school to address the systemic issues that allowed the situation to escalate. Efforts are currently underway to stabilize the school environment and encourage students to return to their studies as the investigation continues.