Fearing dengue, classes held outside classrooms in Patna school

Due to dengue scare, classes were held outside the classrooms in Dayanand Government School in Patna's Mithapur district after at least 30 students were allegedly diagnosed with the water-borne disease.

"Besides me, four other staff and over 30 students were taken ill due to dengue," a school staff Ganesh Prasad told ANI.

Meanwhile, a student said, "People dump wastes of the nearby vegetable market outside our school premises, which keeps stinking. School toilets are also dirty. We are scared. It's a risk to our health. Our exams are coming up."

On the claims made by the school students, Principal Secretary of the Health Department RK Mahajan said, "Only tests can tell if they are dengue cases. Treatment will be provided if diagnosed with dengue. We have all arrangements in place."

"The state government and Patna Nagar Nigam are aware of the incident and necessary actions will be taken," he said.

Rising cases of spread of dengue and other water-borne diseases have been reported from Tamil Nadu, Telangana, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh.