August 16, 2025

Excitement filled the air at Kolkata’s Red Road as school students marched proudly in the 79th Independence Day parade. But the hot and humid weather had other plans! A total of 39 students fell ill soon after the event and were rushed to the state-run SSKM Hospital for treatment. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was the chief guest at the celebrations, wasted no time and visited the children at the hospital. She comforted everyone saying, "The children faced a little difficulty in the hot and humid conditions but there was nothing to worry about." She explained the cause plainly, "Due to the hot and humid weather along with the rains, some of them suffered dehydration. Now everyone is okay and stable. They were served breakfast earlier. Now, they have been served lunch." The students who took part in the parade came from different schools across Kolkata. Showing her caring side, Ms. Banerjee added, "I have pampered everyone by offering them sweets." She even helped the girl students feel more comfortable by loosening their tied hair. "Seeing one fall ill, others also fell sick. It is a mental matter. But now everyone is fine," the Chief Minister said with relief. Earlier in the day, Ms. Banerjee paid tribute to Bengal’s great icons like Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, and Rabindranath Tagore on social media. She also remembered the brave revolutionaries and freedom fighters from Bengal who fought against foreign rule and injustice. She ended with a hopeful note, saying, "In days to come, our struggle to uphold the honour of every citizen will continue on the path shown by these pioneers. Our goal is to build the golden nation that our freedom fighters dreamt of... I am certain in this struggle, the people will stand by our side."

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Tags: Independence day, Kolkata, Students ill, Mamata banerjee, Sskm hospital, Parade,