14 tribal school students admitted to hospital

Officials on high alert in fever-hit Saluru area

Fourteen students of the Kothavalasa Ashram School were admitted to the Saluru Community Hospital in Vizianagaram district on Tuesday with symptoms of drug allergy and high fever. Their condition is said to be stable. The district administration has been on high alert in Saluru where deaths of youngsters were being reported due to suspected dengue and viral fevers.

The students, who were suffering from mild fever, were reportedly administered chloroquine to prevent malaria, but a few of them allegedly had an allergic reaction and started throwing up. The warden and teachers informed ITDA-Parvatipuram Project Director G. Lakshmisha, who inspected the school and inquired about the sanitation and food quality. He warned the staff that stern action would be taken if the health of children was neglected.

Later, Minister for Mines and Geology Sujay Krishna Rangarao visited the hospital and directed the officials concerned to keep all the children in a special ward for fast recovery.