Class 1 student dies at Palghar ashram school; 26 others fall ill

A seven-year-old Class 1 student at a residential ashram school in Maswan, located in Maharashtra's Palghar district, has died after suffering from a high fever and severe breathing difficulties. Following the incident, 26 other students exhibiting symptoms of cold, cough, and fever were admitted to the hospital, according to official statements.

The child initially developed a high fever on August 22 and received medical attention at the local Primary Health Centre (PHC). When the fever recurred on Monday, the attending medical officer observed a drop in the boy's oxygen levels and directed that he be transferred via ambulance to the Rural Hospital in Manor. Upon his arrival, medical personnel performed an ECG and declared the child dead. Authorities stated that the exact cause of death will be determined following the receipt of the post-mortem report.

In the aftermath of the death, senior administrative and health officials visited the institution—which houses 395 boarders out of 449 total enrolled students—and deployed a medical team to conduct comprehensive health screenings across the campus. As a precautionary measure, 26 students showing mild symptoms of cold, cough, or fever were placed under medical observation at the Maswan PHC, where their conditions are currently reported as stable.

Vishal Khatri, Project Officer for the Integrated Tribal Development Project, inspected both the school premises and the health facility to meet with hospitalised students and their parents. He confirmed that a fresh health check-up drive was initiated on the advice of the District Health Officer, alongside campus sanitation and water purification measures to prevent any recurrence.

This incident follows another recent tragedy in Gadchiroli district, where three tribal girls died from venomous snakebites while sleeping on the floor of a residential school hostel. Official data shows that an average of nearly one student died every day in Maharashtra’s ashram schools over the past two years, bringing the total death toll to 584 across state-run and government-aided facilities due to causes ranging from snakebites and sickle cell disease to serious illnesses, accidents, and suicides. Following public backlash over the Gadchiroli deaths, the state government revoked the facility's licence and ordered comprehensive safety audits across all residential schools.