Dengue hits students of Geethanjali Devashalla

Balamrai: Following the death of 13-year-old-boy Winston of Geethanjali Devashalla on August 31, and with 30 more students from the school suffering from dengue fever, agitated parents gathered in large numbers before the school here on Tuesday.

Parents of Winston alleged that the school was responsible for their son's death due to unclean surroundings at the school. The parents demanded that the school management take them around the school and show the condition of the toilets.

Later, the management invited them for discussions. During the discussions, the representatives of school management explained to the parents about the various measures taken by them to keep the school surroundings clean. Parents were shown the surroundings, toilets, classrooms and grounds. Parents demanded that the school authorities take preventive measures to maintain hygiene and clean surroundings.

On condition of anonymity, a parent of class 9 student said, "Today we all gathered in the school and questioned the management. It is high time the school authorities took prompt action. The school should conduct fumigation drive at least every 15 days".

"The parents have also claimed that the school lacks proper ventilation and also the washrooms in the school are not properly cleaned. Also, there is no hand wash in the school," says a parent of class 8 student of Geethanjali Devashalla.

"My son was admitted in the hospital as he was diagnosed with dengue and I was astonished to see more four children from the same school was admitted in the hospital with same symptoms," said a worried parent of class 6 student.

"Many representations were given by the parents to the school authorities regarding this issue and also many times we requested them to ask SCB to remove garbage bin outside the school gate, but it was not removed. But after the protests on Tuesday morning, it was removed but that place is not been cleaned yet.

Also, there is no mosquito net in the windows of the classrooms," according to a parent of class 4 student. The school authorities have assured to take preventive measures.