7-Year-Old Ashram School Student Dies in Palghar's Maswan, 26 Hospitalised
A seven-year-old student of a residential ashram school in Maswan, located in Maharashtra's Palghar district, died after suffering from high fever and breathing difficulties, officials said. Following the incident, 26 other students from the same facility were hospitalised with symptoms of cold, cough, and fever.
The deceased child, a Class 1 student at the Maswan ashram school, initially developed a high fever on August 22 and was taken to the local Primary Health Centre (PHC) for treatment. When his fever returned on Monday, the PHC medical officer detected dropping oxygen levels and advised shifting him by ambulance to the Rural Hospital in Manor.
Upon arrival at the Manor hospital, medical officers conducted an electrocardiogram (ECG) and declared the child dead. Officials stated that the exact cause of death will be confirmed after the post-mortem report is received.
The incident prompted senior health and administration officials to visit the residential school, which houses 395 resident students out of a total enrollment of 449. A medical team subsequently conducted a comprehensive health screening across the campus.
As a precautionary measure, 26 students exhibiting mild symptoms of cold, cough, or fever were placed under medical observation at the Maswan PHC. Officials reported that their condition remains stable.
Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) officer Vishal Khatri visited the school and the health centre to meet the hospitalised students and their families.
"As per the advice of the district health officer, a fresh health check-up drive was conducted at the Maswan ashram school. Essential measures for campus sanitation and water purification are being carried out in the institution, and all necessary precautions will be taken to prevent the recurrence of such unfortunate incidents," Khatri said.
According to official data released earlier this month, an average of nearly one student died every day in Maharashtra's ashram schools over the last two years, resulting in a total death toll of 584 across state-run and government-aided residential facilities. The reported causes of death included snakebites, sickle cell disease, severe illnesses, accidents, and suicides.
