Archive · 27 Aug 2026
Palghar Ashram School Death Spurs Screening, SIT Investigation
A seven-year-old student at an ashram school in Maswan became very sick with a high fever and later died during treatment.
Thirty other students who had symptoms such as cough, cold or fever were watched by doctors.
Health workers checked all the students at the school.
They collected medical samples and water samples to look for a possible source of infection.
The samples were sent to laboratories, but the results are not ready yet.
Some students are being treated at health centers and hospitals in Maswan, Manor and Palghar.
Officials also checked the school’s water, food, sanitation and medical arrangements.
Three school staff members were suspended, and a special team will investigate what happened.
Seven-year-old Class 1 student Shreyas Shailesh Ambat died during treatment after developing a high fever.
Thirty students with cold, cough or fever were placed under observation at hospitals in Palghar district.
Health teams collected blood, serum, throat-swab and other samples, along with school water samples, for testing.
The school has 395 resident students among 449 total enrollees, and all remaining students were reported stable.
Three staff members were suspended, while a four-member Special Investigation Team was formed to investigate the death and school conditions.
- Who
- Seven-year-old student Shreyas Shailesh Ambat, other Maswan Ashram School students, health officials, school staff and the Special Investigation Team.
- What
- A student died after a high fever, prompting health screening, laboratory testing, staff suspensions and an investigation.
- When
- The student developed a high fever on August 22; the response was reported on August 25, 2026, with laboratory results still awaited.
- Where
- The aided Ashram School at Maswan in Palghar district, Maharashtra; students were treated in Maswan, Manor and Palghar.
- Why
- Authorities are investigating the death and reported student illnesses while checking possible infection sources, sanitation, water, food and school management.
Official Investigation and Monitoring
Advocates’ Call for Government Takeover
School management
Official Investigation and Monitoring
Authorities have ordered an inquiry into the school’s functioning and management while continuing coordinated health monitoring and inspections.
Advocates’ Call for Government Takeover
Shramjeevi Sanghatana president Sita Ghatal urged the state government to take over the school and operate it as a fully government-run facility.
Student protections
Official Investigation and Monitoring
Officials are checking drinking water, sanitation, hygiene, medical response protocols and food supplies, with further medical action dependent on laboratory results.
Advocates’ Call for Government Takeover
Sita Ghatal called for round-the-clock emergency care, clean drinking water, adequate nutrition and quality educational infrastructure for the students.
- Deceased student
- Shreyas Shailesh Ambat, a seven-year-old Class 1 student
- Students under care
- Thirty students: 24 at the Primary Health Centre in Maswan, five at the Rural Hospital in Manor and one at the Rural Hospital in Palghar
- School enrollment
- 395 resident students out of 449 total enrollees
- Samples collected
- Blood, serum, throat swabs, other medical samples and water samples from the school
- Testing locations
- Laboratories in Pune and the MRHRU laboratory at Dahanu
- Suspended staff
- Headmaster Rahul Sankhye, Superintendent Amruta Sawant and Pandurang Lahare
- SIT leadership
- Apurva Basur, Project Officer of ITDP Jawhar, chairs the four-member team