14 students faint in Sheikhpura

Biharsharif: Amid intense heat conditions, at least 14 students of Kasturba Gandhi Residential Girls School at Lodhipur in Sheikhpura district were admitted to the sadar hospital after they allegedly fainted in their classrooms on Monday.

This is the second such incident at the same school within three days. Earlier on May 16, as many as 27 students had fallen ill and were hospitalised with similar complaints.

According to doctors, most of the students complained of severe vertigo before fainting. Dr Ravindra Prasad, the attending physician at Sheikhpura Sadar Hospital, said the condition of all the students was stable.

“The students appear to have suffered due to heat stroke and exhaustion. There is no indication of food poisoning in Monday’s incident,” the doctor said.

However, doctors treating the students admitted to the hospital on May 16 had then attributed the incident to suspected food poisoning. One of the affected students, Roshni Kumari, said several girls had complained of stomach ache and dizziness before collapsing during evening prayers. She added that roasted gram and mixture had been served as refreshments shortly before the prayers.

A district education department official said an inquiry was underway to ascertain the exact reason behind the repeated incidents of students falling ill at the residential school.

Meanwhile, villagers who assisted the school authorities in shifting the students to hospital alleged that the girls were suffering due to extreme heat and inadequate cooling arrangements inside the classrooms and hostel premises.

“The fans are insufficient and the rooms become unbearably hot. Immediate steps are needed, otherwise more students may fall sick,” a villager said.