As a fallout of the Friday fire tragedy at a private school in Kumbakonam, in which 90 children were killed, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Sunday instructed education department officials not to allow any classes in thatched sheds in schools in the state.
In a statement in Chennai, she said all schools, which had thatched structures, should replace them with fire-resistant material before July 30, failing which their recognition would be cancelled and their managements prosecuted for criminal negligence.
She also ordered all schools in the state to hold a prayer meeting on Monday, after which they would remain closed for the day, as a mark of respect to the departed souls.
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The chief minister has instructed collectors to undertake an intensive inspection of all schools in their districts for a week from Monday. They should prepare a list of schools, which had thatched structures and issue notices to them to replace them before July end.
She hoped the authorities would realise that safety standards should not be compromised where children are concerned.
In another development, two students, who received serious burns at the Kumbakonam school fire tragedy on Friday, were admitted to the Apollo Hospital in Chennai on Saturday night.
The children - Kousalya (6) and Vijay (8) - received extensive burns on their upper limbs and face, renowned plastic surgeon Dr K Sridhar, who is treating them, said.
"Both patients are running a temperature and criticality continues," he said. Removal of burnt skin and grafting could be taken up in a couple of days if their condition stablisied.
Vijay was a bit restless and often woke up, recollecting the tragedy. His pupils showed dilatation. Doctors are checking for internal injuries.
One more child, with extensive burns, was shifted to the Apollo Hospital in Madurai and was in the ICU, Dr Sridhar added.
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