GUWAHATI/SHILLONG: The Independence Day parades turned into scenes of concern in Assam’s Morigoan and Shillong in Meghalaya after close to 40 students collapsed during the parades on August 15.
In a school in Morigoan, 22 students fainted when the chief guest of the event, District Commissioner Devashish Sharma, was delivering his address.
All the affected students were swiftly transported to the Morigaon Civil Hospital for prompt medical attention. Officials confirm that the students are presently under careful observation. Reports indicate that their medical condition has stabilised since yesterday.
According to an official from the district administration in Morigoan, the young parade marchers were in the midst of their spirited procession when the unexpected incident occurred. The scorching heat was believed to have left the children dizzy and disoriented, causing them to faint in the midst of the festivities.
However, the incident did not escaped criticism as parents of the affected children voiced their grievances, alleging that the necessary arrangements to handle such a situation were inadequate.
They revealed that ambulances were notably absent, compelling many parents to personally rush their ailing children to the hospital. The absence of proper facilities for participants to cool off and hydrate during the event further fueled the growing resentment.
Meanwhile, a staggering 15 students, proudly participating in the Independence Day parade, succumbed to illness during Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma’s speech at Polo Grounds, Shillong, on Tuesday.
Sharing the news, a senior health official on duty informed that the students found themselves on stretchers and were carried away from the grounds to receive urgent medical attention.
The students, hailing from various schools scattered across the city, had enthusiastically joined the ranks of nearly 200 participants for the parade at the ground.
While the spirits of the children were undoubtedly high with patriotic fervour, the scorching heat revealed the importance of stringent safety measures during such events.
