Daijiworld Media Network - Barmer

Barmer, May 2: Thirteen students from a government school in Barmer district were hospitalised on Saturday after falling ill, allegedly due to consuming contaminated water on the school premises, officials said.

The incident occurred at a Government Senior Secondary School in Meghwalon ki Basti, Sanawada, where students had gathered for an activity. During recess, several students drank water from the school tank and soon complained of itching and red rashes.

The children were initially taken to a local hospital in Sanawada, but were later shifted to the district hospital at Barmer Medical College as their condition did not improve.

Additional District Collector Rajendra Singh said the students exhibited allergy-like symptoms and are currently under medical supervision. “All the children are out of danger, and the exact cause of the illness is being investigated,” he said.

In a related development, Congress MLA Rafiq Khan conducted a public hearing on drinking water issues at the Public Health Engineering Department office in Jaipur. He brought along a bottle of allegedly contaminated tap water and urged officials to ensure safe supply or be willing to consume the same water.

Residents from several areas, including Dev Vihar, Vinayak Enclave, Govardhanpuri, and Idgah along Agra Road, raised concerns over water shortages, irregular supply, and poor quality. Khan also highlighted complaints of pipeline damage affecting supply in parts of the constituency and called for immediate corrective measures.