Kandivli’s Swami Vivekanand International School declared a half-day for its primary section on Monday after several students in the morning shift experienced sudden symptoms of a skin allergy. The school took immediate precautionary measures, including sending students from the afternoon shift home early. They also conducted a thorough sanitization of the campus and drained the water tank, sending water samples for laboratory testing.
On Tuesday evening, the school issued a statement confirming that no adverse results were found from the water tests and that the cause of the reactions remained unclear. No further complaints were reported on Tuesday.
Parents of affected students described the incident as “mysterious.” Some speculated that ongoing construction in the area, including heavy dust and pollution, could be to blame. One parent, after consulting a doctor, suggested the allergic reaction might have been caused by pollution or construction dust in the vicinity. The school, with an enrollment of about 4,500 students, is an alma mater of Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma.
Several students reported itching and burning sensations on their skin and eyes, with some even developing small bumps. One parent noted that her child appeared unusually drowsy upon returning from school. Another parent pointed out the proximity of a nullah (drain) near the school.
The incident reportedly began when four Grade VII students, from two adjacent classrooms, complained of itching. In response, school officials evacuated the affected classrooms and began sanitizing the premises. The school allowed working parents to keep their children on campus for the remainder of the day.
A statement from the school read, “After dispersing the secondary section, we received feedback from parents about children experiencing allergic skin reactions. To ensure the safety of the students, we declared a half-day for the primary section to conduct a thorough cleaning.”
Despite receiving no formal complaints from residents or the school itself, health and local ward officials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) expressed their intent to investigate the situation further.
The school authorities continue to monitor the situation and maintain open communication with parents and local health officials.
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