<p><strong>Kota:</strong> Water samples collected from a government school here, where 27 children fell ill last month, have revealed severe bacterial contamination, officials said.</p>
<p>A report from the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) Regional Laboratory confirmed an alarmingly high coliform bacteria count of 2,400 MPN/100 ml in water stored in clay pots and nearby tubewells supplying the school.</p>
<p>Experts emphasised that safe drinking water must contain 0 MPN coliform.</p>
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<p>The absence of residual chlorine rendered the water entirely untreated, unfit for consumption or domestic use, and comparable to sewage water, they said.</p>
<p>The Government Upper Primary School in Puniya Devari Basti, which has 130 students enrolled, is located in the Ladpura constituency.</p>
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<p>At least 27 students had fallen ill here on August 24, initially suspected to be due to the mid-day meal. Official reports have now confirmed the illnesses were caused by contaminated groundwater, likely exacerbated by recent heavy rainfall, rather than the food.</p>
<p>PHED Executive Engineer Jeevandar Rathore said intensive chlorination was carried out for two to three hours across the affected tubewells immediately after the test results.</p>
<p>The school administration has been directed to stop using the non-potable tubewell water.</p>
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<p>Deputy Director of the Education Department Rupesh Kumar Singh said the matter was taken into immediate cognisance.</p>
<p>The school has arranged temporary drinking water through campers. For a permanent solution, the PHED is coordinating with Jal Jeevan Mission contractors to lay a new pipeline connection for the school.</p>
The post Contaminated Water, Not Mid-Day Meal, Made 27 Kota School Children Sick: Lab Report appeared first on School Assembly News Headlines Today September 16, Top National, International, Sports, Business News.