Hostel studentdies of GE

The death of a 13-year-old boy, an inmate of a social welfare residential hostel at Nadendla village in Chilakaluripet, who was admitted with severe symptoms of gastroenteritis, sparked protests at the GGH here on Monday.

Scores of MRPS activists staged a sit-in demanding that the State government pay ex gratia to the family.

District Collector Kona Sasidhar announced an ex gratia of ₹5 lakh. B. Simhadri, is the only boy in a family of four siblings. His parents work in Guntur as daily coolies in the chili yard.

Contaminated well

The boy was among the 19, who were rushed to the hospital after consuming food cooked with water drawn from a contaminated well outside the hostel on Thursday.

The hostel staff said they were forced to use the well water as power supply remained disrupted during the day.

Soon after consuming lunch, the boys showed up with symptoms of diarrhoea which included loose stools. The hostel warden rushed them to a local primary health centre.

The Collector rushed to the hostel and ensured that the boys received the best possible treatment.