7-Year-Old Student Dies in Palghar's Maswan Ashram School, 19 Others Under Observation

A seven-year-old student at a government-aided Ashram School at Maswan in Palghar district died on August 24 after his health suddenly deteriorated, while 19 other students exhibiting fever symptoms were placed under medical observation.

The deceased student was identified as Kumar Shreyansh Shailesh Ambat, a Class 1 student at the residential institution. According to officials, Ambat developed a fever on August 22 and was initially taken to the Maswan Primary Health Centre (PHC) for medical care.

On August 24, his condition worsened significantly as he began experiencing acute breathing difficulties. With his oxygen levels dropping, the Medical Officer at the Maswan PHC directed that he be transferred to the Rural Hospital at Manor. Although he was transported with oxygen support in an ambulance, medical staff at Manor conducted an electrocardiogram (ECG) upon his arrival and declared him dead.

Authorities stated that the exact cause of the child's death has not yet been confirmed and will be established once the post-mortem examination report is released.

The fatality triggered an immediate health screening across the Maswan Ashram School, which accommodates 449 students—consisting of 222 boys and 227 girls—including 395 residential pupils.

Following the incident, the Project Officer, District Health Officer, and Taluka Health Officer visited the school premises to assess the situation and issue instructions on preventive health measures.

A specialised medical team from the Taluka Ashram School Department conducted health check-ups for the entire student population. During the screening, 19 students who displayed symptoms such as cold, cough, and fever were admitted for close monitoring at the Maswan PHC. Health officials confirmed that their conditions remain stable.

Medical teams also collected blood samples from the symptomatic students to test for dengue, malaria, and other infectious diseases. Officials confirmed that laboratory results are currently awaited.

The health department has implemented preventive protocols across the residential facility and continues to monitor the remaining students. Authorities noted that further steps will depend on the final laboratory test reports and the post-mortem findings.