Uttarakhand School's Fake Eye-Injury Drill on Mobile Use Sparks Probe

A school in Uttarakhand's Udham Singh Nagar district has drawn official attention after an anti-mobile-phone exercise left several young students frightened and in tears.

The activity was held at Adarsh India Montessori School in Biria Majhola, Khatima. According to accounts of the incident, one child's eyes were wrapped in bandages, with a red liquid applied around them to create the impression of a severe eye injury.

The child then told classmates that heavy mobile phone use had led doctors to remove both of his eyes. The claim alarmed the other students, many of whom began crying and screaming.

In a video that has since spread on social media, the children are heard saying they would give up mobile phones and promising to stay away from them.

The school appears to have designed the exercise as a practical warning about the effects of prolonged screen time, particularly among children who spend long hours gaming or on social media. The approach, however, has been criticised for the panic it caused.

The footage eventually reached local authorities, who ordered an inquiry. Udham Singh Nagar District Education Officer Harendra Kumar Mishra directed the Basic Education Officer to look into the matter and recommend appropriate action based on the findings.

Khatima Sub-Divisional Magistrate Tushar Saini acknowledged that such activities can instil fear in children and said the school management had been advised against holding programmes that could have a negative impact on students.

Officials said further steps would be decided once the investigation report is submitted.