Patapur: Amid reports that diarrhoea is spreading fast in Taptapani Ashram School under Sanakhemundi block in Ganjam district, local BDO and the MLA Saturday visited the ashram and urged inmates to practice hygiene.
The contagious disease spread panic among students after more than 10 students were affected by it since Thursday. The negligence by school authorities put the lives of two students including a girl in jeopardy, sources said.
The two students– Taramani Gomango and Basumati Badaraita– were first admitted to Digapahandi government hospital and later shifted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital for further treatment as their condition worsened. At present, at least 12 ashram inmates are affected by the disease, sources said.
The failure of the school authorities to alert guardians triggered outrage among parents. “We were unaware of our children’s condition until the report was published in a daily,” said Kureshu Gomango and Dursasan Sabar.
On learning the incident, BDO Naresh Chandra Sabar along with village welfare officer Jayant Kumar visited the school and took stock of the situation.
Later, they brought the matter to the notice of the district collector and the district social welfare officer. They also asked Adapada community health centre officer to send a team of doctors to the ashram. The team reached the ashram and began treatment of students while this report was filed.
It may be noted, a minor boy in the ashram had died after he was affected by malaria in February this year. The authorities failed to admit the boy to hospital. They handed him over to his parents after his condition worsened. However, the boy died as no treatment could be given to him in time. Similarly, a Class I girl, Sibani Gomango, (6) went missing August 1 and she is still untraceable.
Such negligence by the school authorities is surprising, the BDO said. Meanwhile, MLA Nandini Devi reached the ashram and inquired into the students’ health. PNN
