Girls fall unconscious in Odisha school; villagers lodge police complaint suspecting black magic

Belguntha: The villagers of Jhadabandha have approached Gangapur police under Dharakote block in Ganjam district on suspicion of black magic after a few girls of Sri Sri Garudeswar High School in the locality reportedly fell unconscious thrice during the school hours within last couple of weeks.

According to sources, a school girl fell unconscious while reciting the prayer around two weeks ago. Soon, another seven girls also lost their consciousness one after another at the school.

The school authorities informed the incident to the girls’ guardians and took the necessary steps to send them back home. The school headmaster had also informed the incident to Dharakote block education officer (BEO) and Block Development Officer (BDO).

Subsequently, a team from the Health department had rushed to the village and examined the health condition of the school girls. The administration had also organized a health camp in the village and conducted health check-ups on all the students of Sri Sri Garudeswar School and a few youths of the village.

The officials of the Health department had then claimed that some students of the school were suffering from low blood pressure which might be the reason behind so many girls falling unconscious during the school hours. The officials had provided medicines to the students who were found with low blood pressure, sources said.

A few days later, two girls once gain fell unconscious at the school. Similarly, at least seven girls lost their consciousness during the school hours on Friday.

Suspecting black magic and witchcraft behind the incident, the villagers lodged a complaint with police.

Accepting the complaint, Gangapur police inspector in-charge Shuvendu Kumar Sahu organised an awareness camp and advised the villagers not to believe in superstition and unscientific practices.

He also asked the villagers to arrange proper treatment for the girl students.

Sahu assured the villagers to raise the issue with the district sub-collector, SDPO and other officials during a grievance hearing meeting, scheduled to be held on Monday.

Sahu also promised that he would urge Ganjam collector to arrange proper treatment for the school girls.