Ten students of Udzorong Lower Secondary School in Trashigang were tested positive of typhoid last week. The situation is, however, under control. Around 20 students of the School were sent to nearby BHUs for check-up. The School Principal, Yeshey, denied having water problem in the school but said students might have fallen sick due to over congested classrooms and hostels.
“If it is typhoid then I think we the teachers and the construction laborers should also get. At this time of the year when it is very hot I think it’s because of that,” said the Principal.
The Principal added that they have been telling the students to drink boiled water. “During the morning assembly we always tell the students to drink boiled water. We ask the day scholar students to bring boiled water and in the hostel we give them boiled water. However, since there are a lot of students we see them drinking from the tap but we don’t let them drink”
The School is facing space crunch due to school up-gradation works. Works are currently underway to upgrade the school to a middle secondary school starting next year. The old classrooms have been demolished after construction of the new academic blocks began. Studying and teaching in the temporary classrooms have become difficult especially during the sunny days. The classrooms are roofed and covered with CGI sheets. To ease the problem, the school has provided fans.
The present girls’ hostel has also been shifted to a temporary hostel after it was found unsafe. There is risk of landslide near the old hostel. The girls will have to stay in the tents till the school comes up with a solution. Meanwhile, Kanglung BHU said 8 students who tested positive of typhoid have been treated and sent back to the School.
