Ghost scares away hostel inmates

​Asifabad: Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyala (KGBV) at Koutala of Komaram Bheem district wore a ghost town look with parents taking out their wards linking the recurring food poisoning cases in the hostel to some paranormal activity.

Fearing that a ghost is on prowl during night time, parents of 350 inmates rushed to the hostel on Tuesday and left for home along with their wards vacating the hostel. Lakshmi, mother of one of the inmates, said that the hostel is haunted by ghosts and hence the students are becoming indisposed.

The inmates are petrified that a ghost is on prowl resulting in sleeplessness for them. As a result, they are falling sick, the parents reasoned.

It may be recalled that 42 inmates of the hostel complained of abdominal pain and dehydration after they had eaten puri along with stale dal for breakfast.

The parents felt that it is judicious to take the children home instead of keeping them in the ghost hostel. Narayana, parent of one of the students, made it clear that under no circumstances the children would be sent back to hostel till the ghost was exorcised.

When District Educational Officer Rafiq tried to convince the parents to keep their wards in the hostel, the parents were firm in their reply stating that their wards’ health takes precedence over their education. Though he offered to take steps to improve the lodging and boarding amenities, parents cared no attention to assurances and took their wards to home.

The DEO’s appeal to them not to give credence to rumours of ghost fell on their deaf ears. Former ZP chairman Sidam Ganapati recalled that last year 43 inmates suffered food-poisoning because of sub-standard food served to the inmates.

Hostel warden Kavita dismissed the presence of ghost as nonsense. She said that a programme to sensitise parents would be undertaken soon.