Smartphones are now part of everyday life for children and teenagers. From online classes and gaming to YouTube and social media, screens are often difficult to keep away from.
That has also pushed schools to look for ways to talk to students about excessive phone use.
But at a private school in Uttarakhand, an awareness activity took an unusual turn.
Children were shown a classmate with his eyes covered in bandages. Red-coloured liquid was reportedly applied around the eyes to make the injury appear real. The child then told his classmates that doctors had removed both his eyes because he had used a mobile phone too much.
Several children started crying and screaming.
The incident has now prompted an official inquiry in Uttarakhand.
What Happened In The Classroom?
The incident was reported from Adarsh India Montessori School in Biria Majhola, Khatima, in Udham Singh Nagar district.
According to reports, the school organised the activity to warn children about excessive smartphone use, including gaming and social media.
As part of the exercise, a child was presented with his eyes covered by bandages. Reports say colour was applied around the eyes to create the appearance of a serious injury.
The child then told the other students that he had used a mobile phone excessively and that doctors had consequently removed both his eyes.
The claim frightened the children watching the activity.
A video of the exercise that circulated on social media showed several children crying and screaming. Some were heard promising that they would not use mobile phones.
So, Who Was The Doctor?
The doctor was part of the fictional scenario created for the awareness activity. The child was made to portray someone who had supposedly lost his eyes after excessive mobile use.
The apparent eye injury was also simulated using bandages and coloured liquid.
Why Did The School Do This?
The stated purpose was to discourage children from spending excessive time on smartphones.
The school reportedly wanted to demonstrate the supposed consequences of prolonged phone use, particularly gaming and social media use.
The activity was described in reports as an emotional or practical exercise intended to make the message memorable.
However, the reaction of the students became the focus of the incident.
Instead of simply discussing screen-time concerns, the exercise presented children with a simulated injury and a claim that excessive mobile use had resulted in the loss of both eyes.
What Legal Action Has Been Taken?
As of 23 September 2026, the authorities have ordered an inquiry. No final punishment against the school or its staff has been announced.
Udham Singh Nagar Chief Education Officer Harendra Kumar Mishra directed the Khatima Block Education Officer to investigate the incident and submit a report. Mishra said necessary action would be taken based on the facts established by the inquiry.
Khatima Sub-Divisional Magistrate Tushar Saini also acknowledged concerns about activities that could create fear among children. The school management was advised to avoid programmes that could negatively affect students.
The inquiry is expected to establish how the activity was planned and conducted and whether the school followed applicable norms concerning children's safety and emotional well-being.
There is also a broader legal framework governing treatment of children in schools. Section 17 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 prohibits physical punishment and mental harassment of children. The law provides for disciplinary action where its provisions are contravened.
However, whether this particular activity amounts to prohibited mental harassment is not a finding that has been made yet. That determination would depend on the facts established by the ongoing inquiry.
What Is The Bigger Question?
The incident raises a simple question for schools: How do you teach children about responsible phone use without frightening them?
Screen-time awareness is a legitimate subject for schools, particularly when children use smartphones for entertainment, gaming, communication and learning.
But the method matters.
Government school-safety guidance says verbal, physical or mental abuse can negatively affect young minds and calls for a safe and child-friendly environment. CBSE’s school-affiliation framework also requires affiliated schools to follow child-safety guidelines.
The Uttarakhand inquiry will now determine what exactly happened, how the activity was authorised and whether any rules or duties concerning children were breached.
For now, the central fact is straightforward: a school activity designed to discourage excessive mobile use left children visibly distressed, and the education department is investigating how and why it happened.
TL;DR | News At A Glance
What happened at the Uttarakhand school?
An anti-mobile phone drill at a school in Khatima, Uttarakhand, left several children crying after a student was made to pretend that his eyes had been removed because of excessive mobile phone use.
Why did the Uttarakhand school conduct the anti-mobile drill?
The school’s mobile phone awareness activity aimed to warn students about excessive smartphone use, gaming and social media.
Did a doctor actually remove the child’s eyes?
No. The “doctor removed my eyes” statement was part of the simulated scenario. The child was shown with bandages and coloured liquid to make the injury appear real.
Were the children actually injured?
No physical injury to the children has been reported. However, several students were seen crying and screaming during the school activity.
Where did the Uttarakhand school incident happen?
The incident was reported at Adarsh India Montessori School in Biria Majhola, Khatima, in Udham Singh Nagar district.
What legal action has been taken?
The Uttarakhand education department has ordered an inquiry into the anti-mobile phone drill. Any further action will depend on the inquiry findings.
Why is the school’s anti-mobile drill being investigated?
The inquiry will examine how the activity was conducted and whether any child-safety or education rules were breached.
