13 students fall ill in Belonia school classroom, five discharged

Nine Class VII students of Uttar Bharat Chandranagar Higher Secondary School in Belonia reported breathing difficulties and chest pain during classes on Wednesday, prompting the administration to send an ambulance and shift them to Belonia Sub-Divisional Hospital, officials said.

Although no confirmation has been made, sources in the administration informed this newspaper that it could be a case of ‘mass hysteria’. According to experts, such conditions are often developed among a group of children in adolescence. The children behave in a way that looks as if they were frightened of something. 

According to the South Tripura district administration, the incident occurred between around 12.30 pm and 1 pm. The students were taken to hospital for medical examination, treatment and observation.

The district administration said all nine students were in stable condition and their health had improved by 6.15 pm. Five of them were discharged after medical observation, while the remaining four continued to be under the supervision of doctors at the hospital.

The incident comes days after three students in the same classroom had reportedly developed similar symptoms, raising concern among parents and school authorities.

Officials of the South District Education Department and Belonia Sub-Divisional Magistrate Debajyoti Roy visited the hospital after being informed about Wednesday's incident. Roy spoke to the treating doctors and interacted with the parents of the affected students.

The district administration said it was closely monitoring the situation following directions from the Chief Minister's Office and had taken necessary measures to ensure the safety and well-being of the students.

It also said the fans in the classroom were functioning properly at the time of the incident and that there was adequate ventilation.

The South Tripura Chief Medical Officer is also monitoring the health condition of the students, the administration said.

As a precautionary measure, a medical camp and counselling session will be organised at the school at 11 am on Thursday. A medical team comprising doctors and other specialists has also been constituted on the initiative of the Chief Medical Officer to examine the students and provide counselling.

Earlier, there were allegations that teachers had initially not taken steps to shift the affected students to hospital. The headmaster and other teachers later reached the hospital after being informed that the students had been taken there and enquired about their condition.

The administration has not given any confirmed explanation for the students developing the symptoms. Officials said further action would be taken based on medical advice and health assessments.