Mysuru: The heritage city of Mysuru is taking the ‘Blue Whale Challenge’ head-on with the Education Department leading a series of awareness campaigns to educate parents, teachers and the managements of student hostels regarding the deadly online game and to prevent students from being its victims.

The awareness campaigns will be conducted from tomorrow (Sept. 11) at city, hobli and taluk levels and the respective Block Education Officers (BEOs) will lead the initiative of counselling parents and teachers regarding the game.

The Education Department’s move comes after reports of Mysuru featuring prominently in the cities of the country where the term ‘Blue Whale’ has been searched widely on the internet. According to Google search data statistics, Mysuru figured in ninth place among Indian cities where the term ‘Blue Whale’ was searched.

Following the reports, the Karnataka Government, through the Education Department issued directives to school managements to tackle the Blue Whale Challenge game that drives players to suicide. In a circular, the Department has asked the teachers to look out for unusual symbols or injuries on the arms and lips of students.

Though no Blue Whale-related tragedy has been reported in Karnataka, the Education Department has decided to take no chances as suicides triggered by the game are rising across the world. The circular has been issued by State Public Instructions Commissioner A. Sowjanya.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, Deputy Director of Public Instructions B.K.S. Vardhan said that from tomorrow, Department officials will conduct awareness campaigns and all the heads of primary and secondary schools will be sensitised on the deadly game and how to prevent students from falling victims.

The department has also given directions to school authorities to block this game at school computers. The DDPI said those who play this game, behave unusually and they prefer to be alone. “School authorities should observe these things among children and if they find any student playing this game, teachers should give counselling to them. We request parents not to send their children to browsing centres to play this game,” he said.

“It is important to create awareness about the dangers associated with the game and prevent students from falling victims to it. At greater risk are minors who keep getting messages ordering them to complete the tasks assigned,” Vardhan added. For the awareness campaign, the department will involve volunteers and officials from Child Helpline, Children Committees and NGOs.

The other directives in the circular are: Watch out for kids who view horror movies continuously, those who wake up at 4.20 am, those who listen to disturbing and bizarre music and those who post depressing messages and selfies on social media.

The Blue Whale Challenge, which reportedly originated in Russia, challenges youngsters to engage in a series of harmful behaviour over 50 days. Some of the dares include harming oneself by cutting the skin, isolating oneself, visiting graveyards at night, viewing horror movies, listening to disturbing music and, finally, committing suicide.