“Doctor Removed My Eyes”: Uttarakhand School’s Anti-Mobile Phone Drill Leaves Children Crying

Smartphones have become an everyday part of children's lives, whether for online classes, gaming, social media, entertainment or communication. As concerns around excessive screen time grow, schools are increasingly trying to educate students about responsible mobile phone use.

However, an awareness activity at a private school in Uttarakhand took an unexpected turn after several children were left crying and screaming during a demonstration involving a simulated eye injury. The incident has now prompted an official inquiry.

What Happened at the Uttarakhand School?

The incident was reported from Adarsh India Montessori School in Biria Majhola, Khatima, in Udham Singh Nagar district.

The school had reportedly organised an activity aimed at warning children about excessive smartphone use, particularly the prolonged use of mobile phones for gaming and social media.

During the exercise, a child was presented in front of other students with his eyes covered in bandages. Coloured liquid was reportedly applied around the eyes to make the injury appear serious.

The child then told his classmates that he had used a mobile phone excessively and that doctors had consequently removed both his eyes.

The scenario frightened several children who were watching the demonstration. A video that circulated on social media showed some students crying and screaming, while some reportedly promised that they would not use mobile phones.

Did a Doctor Really Remove the Child’s Eyes?

No.

The incident involved a simulated scenario created as part of the school's awareness activity. The apparent eye injury was created using bandages and coloured liquid.

The child was portraying someone who had supposedly lost his eyes after excessive mobile phone use. There has been no report that a doctor actually removed anyone's eyes or that the children suffered physical injuries during the exercise.

Why Did the School Conduct the Activity?

The stated purpose of the exercise was to discourage children from spending excessive amounts of time on smartphones.

The activity reportedly focused on the possible consequences of prolonged mobile phone use, including gaming and social media. Instead of conducting a conventional classroom discussion, the school used a practical or emotional demonstration to make its message more memorable.

However, the reaction of the students quickly became the central issue.

Rather than simply receiving a warning about excessive screen time, the children were confronted with a simulated injury and told that mobile phone use had resulted in the loss of both eyes.

Video of the Activity Goes Viral

The incident attracted wider attention after footage of the activity circulated on social media.

The video showed several children appearing distressed, with some crying and screaming. Some students were also heard promising that they would not use mobile phones.

The scenes raised questions about whether fear-based demonstrations are an appropriate way to educate young children about screen-time habits.

Authorities Order an Inquiry

Following the incident, education authorities in Uttarakhand ordered an investigation.

Udham Singh Nagar Chief Education Officer Harendra Kumar Mishra directed the Khatima Block Education Officer to investigate the matter and submit a report. Mishra said that necessary action would be taken based on the facts established during 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.

As of September 23, 2026, no final punishment against the school or its staff has been announced. The inquiry is expected to establish how the activity was planned and conducted and whether applicable norms concerning children's safety and emotional well-being were followed.

What Does the Law Say About Children’s Safety?

The incident has also brought attention to the broader legal framework governing the 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 and provides for disciplinary action where the provision is contravened.

However, whether the particular activity at the Uttarakhand school amounts to prohibited mental harassment has not been determined. That question will depend on the facts established through the ongoing inquiry.

The Bigger Question Around Screen-Time Awareness

Excessive smartphone use is a legitimate subject for discussion among children, particularly as mobile phones are increasingly used for gaming, entertainment, communication and learning.

Schools can play an important role in helping students understand responsible technology use. But the manner in which such messages are delivered can also matter, particularly when the audience consists of young children.

Government school-safety guidance emphasises the importance of maintaining a safe and child-friendly environment, while CBSE's school-affiliation framework also requires affiliated schools to follow child-safety guidelines.

The Uttarakhand inquiry will now look at what exactly happened, how the activity was authorised and conducted, and whether any rules or responsibilities relating to children's safety were breached.

For now, the key fact remains that an activity intended to discourage excessive mobile phone use left several children visibly distressed, prompting education authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the exercise.