Ilam, June 19:

The Panchakanya Residential Secondary School at Phikkal in Ilam was closed for five days from today after students started suffering from a “mystery illness”.

The school was closed after the students complained of stomachache, headache, dizziness and stiffening of the limbs, a teacher at the school, Ram Tamang, said. He said the girls were also gripped by hysteria.

Girls affected by the ‘mystery illness’ since yesterday were mostly studying in the lower secondary and secondary levels, a source said.

“Sirjana Gadtaula, an eighth grader, developed such symptoms first at around 11 am on Monday,” Tamang said. Another 26 other students followed suit, he added.

“We called health workers after students started falling ill,” Tamang said. The students, who were provided medical treatment yesterday, complained of similar problems today as well. “I had a headache all of a sudden while I was in the class. I fell down after my hands and feet stiffened. However, I felt better after taking medicine but I still have a headache,” Suvechha Subedi, a student.