A health scare unfolded in Rajasthan’s Barmer district on Saturday after thirteen students from a government school fell ill, allegedly due to contaminated drinking water on the premises. The incident has raised fresh concerns over water safety in rural schools.
The affected students were from the Government Senior Secondary School located in Meghwalon ki Basti, Sanawada. According to officials, the children had gathered for a school activity and consumed water from the school’s storage tank during recess. Shortly afterward, several of them began experiencing itching and developed red rashes, prompting immediate concern among teachers and staff.
The students were initially rushed to a local healthcare facility in Sanawada. However, as their symptoms persisted, they were referred to the district hospital at Barmer Medical College for further treatment. Authorities confirmed that the children exhibited allergy-like reactions and are currently under close medical observation.
Additional District Collector Rajendra Singh stated that all affected students are now stable and out of danger. “A team of doctors is closely monitoring their condition. The exact cause of the illness is yet to be determined, and a detailed investigation is underway,” he said.
Health officials suspect that the water source may have been contaminated, though laboratory tests are being conducted to confirm the cause. Samples from the school’s water tank have reportedly been collected for analysis.
Meanwhile, the incident has brought renewed attention to broader drinking water concerns in the state. In a separate development, Congress leader and Adarsh Nagar MLA Rafiq Khan held a public hearing at the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) office in Transport Nagar, Jaipur, highlighting ongoing issues related to water supply and quality in his constituency.
Khan arrived at the hearing carrying a bottle of allegedly contaminated tap water, challenging officials to ensure safe and clean drinking water for residents. He was joined by locals who raised complaints about water shortages, irregular supply, and the distribution of polluted water in areas such as Dev Vihar, Vinayak Enclave, Govardhanpuri, and Idgah along Agra Road.
During the session, the MLA also flagged a specific complaint from a colony along Agra Road, where insufficient water supply has reportedly led to residents cutting pipelines to secure access, further disrupting distribution. He urged authorities to take swift action to repair infrastructure and guarantee an equitable and reliable water supply.
The Barmer school incident and the Jaipur hearing together underscore the urgent need for stricter monitoring of water quality and improved infrastructure to ensure public health and safety across Rajasthan.
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