Six girl students fall ill during flag hoisting in Deogarh

Flag hoisting turns scary in Deogarh: 6 girl students fall ill, doctors explain reason

Srijata Mishra 15 Aug 2026 14:48 IST

Six schoolgirls fall sick during I-Day celebration in Odisha (Representative Image) Photograph: (File)

At least six girl students suddenly fell ill during the hoisting of the national flag during the Independence Day celebration at a school in Odisha's Deogarh district on Saturday.

As per reports, the incident took place at Padianali UGUP School in Baliroi under Barkot block.

What happened during the flag hoisting?

During the flag-hoisting ceremony, six girl students suddenly began behaving unusually. Instead of taking them to hospital immediately, their parents reportedly took them to the nearby Mahamayi Mandap and performed prayers. The students were later taken to hospital, where they returned home after recovering.

The ceremony was part of the regular Independence Day observance held at the school. As the national flag was being raised, the six girls exhibited unexpected behaviour that alarmed those present. Witnesses described the girls as appearing dazed and unable to stand normally. Rather than seeking immediate medical attention, the parents chose to first bring the children to the Mahamayi Mandap, a local place of worship, where they offered prayers in the hope of alleviating the girls' distress. After the prayer session, the students were escorted to a nearby hospital for evaluation.

Medical staff examined the girls and found no signs of physical injury or serious illness. Following observation and basic care, the girls were deemed fit to leave the hospital and were allowed to return home with their families.

What did officials say about the incident?

Deogarh DEO Gendra Kujur said the students were not in a serious condition and attributed the incident to a psychological impact. He stated, "The students were not in a serious condition, but it was some sort of a psychological impact and nothing more. A similar situation had happened around a month or so ago with four girls from the village. In today's incident, when they were taken to the hospital, they returned fine, and the doctors said that it was due to some psychological impact."

The DEO further noted that the earlier episode involving four girls from the same village had also been linked to psychological factors, and that no underlying medical condition had been identified in either case. He emphasized that the authorities were monitoring the situation and would continue to ensure the well-being of students during school events.

Local officials confirmed that no further action was required beyond standard health checks, and they urged parents and school staff to remain vigilant but calm during future ceremonies. The incident has prompted discussions among teachers about the importance of recognizing stress‑related reactions among children during public gatherings.

The school administration said they would review their procedures for handling unexpected health episodes during events and would consider arranging brief counselling sessions for students if needed.

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