12 students from Government Hostel hospitalised

MADURAI: At least 12 girl students staying in the government hostel for Backward Classes at Piranmalai in Sivaganga district were admitted to the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) here on Sunday after they complained of fever and related problems.Doctors at the GRH said the students were suffering from fever, dysentery and frequent vomiting. “The students are kept under observation. Only after examining their blood and urine samples, we will be able to give a proper report,” said a senior doctor of the hospital.Around 90 students are staying in the government hostel. On Friday, two of them complained of fever and vomiting with symptoms of dysentery. Within 10 hours, more students fell ill and the number rose to 12.“We immediately rushed the students to the Primary Health Centre at Piranmalai. As the hospital did not have facilities to treat all the students, we brought them to the GRH,” said the hostel warden. The warden said the students might have acquired infection due to the sudden climate change. When contacted, District Backward Class officer Gunasekaran said this is the first time such an incident was reported in the hostel. ”We have informed District Collector U Sagayam about the incident and requested necessary measures to provide proper treatment to the students,” he said.