Odisha School Completes Major Cleanup After Jaundice Scare
Authorities have taken decisive action at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Gurujang, Khurda district. The school reported a significant jaundice outbreak last week, prompting immediate closure and sanitation efforts.
Extensive Water Tank Cleaning Operation
On Monday, the Water Corporation of Odisha conducted a thorough cleaning operation. Workers sanitized all forty-one water tanks located on the school premises. This critical step addresses the contamination source identified earlier.
School principal Kavita Kar explained the situation. Construction work using heavy machinery on campus likely damaged water pipelines. This damage possibly allowed drain water to mix with tap water, causing the contamination.
Phased Campus Sanitization Underway
The entire campus is undergoing systematic cleaning. Teams are working through all hostel rooms for both boys and girls. They are also sanitizing classrooms, the mess area, and kitchen facilities in a phased manner.
"We urged the district collector to direct municipal authorities for complete campus sanitization before reopening," Principal Kar stated. The school also consulted parents about additional health safety measures for students.
Outbreak Details and Recovery Progress
Since January first, approximately sixty-eight people tested positive for jaundice. This number includes both students and staff members from the residential school. All affected individuals returned to their homes for medical treatment.
Twelve students have already recovered fully. Public Health Director Dr. Nilakantha Mishra confirmed no new cases have emerged recently. "Blood tests will be conducted on all recovered individuals before they return to campus," Dr. Mishra added.
Testing and Reopening Plans
Authorities plan to test all water sources in school and hostel areas again. This additional testing will confirm whether contamination risks have been fully eliminated.
The school remained closed for one complete week for intensive sanitization. Officials now plan to reopen the institution this Wednesday, assuming all safety protocols are satisfied.
Earlier investigations by Watco revealed troubling findings. They detected fecal contamination in both the overhead water tank and a kitchen tap. These discoveries prompted the comprehensive cleanup response now underway.
