Mohana: Panic gripped hostel inmates of a Kanya Ashram after more than 50 girl students were affected by diarrhoea at Antaraba under Mohana block in Gajapati district.
The school administration admitted the girl to Chandragiri Area Hospital for treatment. ‘Water scarcity in the hostel premises is the main reason of the disease,’ sources said. There has been no water supply to the hostel for the last few weeks, and two bore-wells located on the hostel premises are unreliable, say sources.
The girls depended on a well for drinking water purposes. However, water from the well did not suffice for the nearly 400 students at the hostel.
According to sources, a stream near the hostel was connected with pipes to provide water to the ashram. However, the stream has dried up leading to several problems in the hostel. “The students have not taken baths for more than a week now,” said headmaster Bhusan Pradhan, commenting on the dire straits at the hostel.
“The students are affected by the disease due to lack of proper drinking water,” said a doctor who treated the girls.
No steps were taken in this regard despite several appeals to the district administration, the headmaster complained. PNN