Dengue Outbreak Hits Gautam Singhania’s School
• Unsafe Construction Sparks Dengue Outbreak
• 22 Students, 5 Teachers Infected at Singhania School
Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts News Exclusive
Contact: +91 9322755098
Sprouts News Exclusive
Contact: +91 9322755098
A dengue outbreak at Suniti Devi Singhania School, Thane, has infected 22 students and 5 teachers, linked to mosquito breeding in ongoing unsafe construction. A TMC probe exposed health violations, prompting a Show Cause Notice. Sprouts SIT reveals broader RTE violations, demanding urgent government action to protect students’ health and rights.
A dengue outbreak has struck the prestigious Suniti Devi Singhania School in Thane, affecting 22 students and 5 teachers. A formal investigation conducted by the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) attributes the outbreak to unsafe construction work on campus, which has created ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes.
The Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT) accessed the official TMC report, which confirms the presence of stagnant water in open excavation pits around the school premises. Based on these findings, the TMC Education Department has issued a Show Cause Notice to the school administration for negligence in maintaining public health and safety standards.
Vector-Borne Disease Risk Ignored Despite Repeated Complaints
Located in the densely populated Chiragnagar area, the ICSE-affiliated school has been under scrutiny following complaints from parents. They reported a surge in fever, rashes, and mosquito bites among students shortly after the academic year began in early June.
In response to media coverage and a complaint filed by a local social worker, TMC formed an inspection committee led by Education Officer Kamalakar Mhetre. The team—comprising Nutan Bandekar, Anagha Palande, Ravindra Patil, and Sangita Bamane—found multiple hygiene violations, damaged mosquito netting, and ineffective insect-repellent measures.
The SIT-verified report reveals that only two mosquito zapper machines were installed in the school’s verandas—grossly inadequate for the school’s size and occupancy.
Contents
Dengue Outbreak Hits Gautam Singhania’s School• Unsafe Construction Sparks Dengue Outbreak• 22 Students, 5 Teachers Infected at Singhania SchoolVector-Borne Disease Risk Ignored Despite Repeated ComplaintsMosquito Breeding Grounds Discovered On CampusAlso Read: Ulhasnagar Illegal Construction Scam: UMC Officers Ganesh Shimpi and Manish Hirve Exposed. Parents Raise Alarms Over Child Health CrisisRTE Violations: Over 175 Illegal Schools Under ScannerAuthorities Must Act: Public Health at RiskGautam Singhania’s Educational Empire Tarnishing His Father’s LegacySinghania’s Global School Group Under Fire for Illegal Operations
Mosquito Breeding Grounds Discovered On Campus
The committee documented several public health risks on-site:
•Stagnant water accumulated in construction pits.
•Construction debris scattered across the school compound.
•Missing or damaged mosquito mesh on classroom windows.
•Large ventilation gaps with no protective screens.
•Use of outdated or insufficient insect-repellent devices.
These findings were corroborated by the Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT), which also confirmed that the school administration failed to maintain basic student attendance logs despite numerous absences linked to illness. The TMC report squarely blames the school’s negligence for the mosquito outbreak, leading to the issuance of a formal notice.
Also Read: Ulhasnagar Illegal Construction Scam: UMC Officers Ganesh Shimpi and Manish Hirve Exposed.
Parents Raise Alarms Over Child Health Crisis
Despite ongoing complaints from concerned parents, the school administration continued to hold physical classes in an unfinished, dust-filled building. Parents informed SIT that students from grades IV and V were being taught inside semi-constructed classrooms exposed to waterlogging and insect infestation.
Several students developed respiratory infections and skin conditions, while around 25 reported fevers. Of these, 7–8 were later confirmed to have contracted dengue. Teachers have also fallen ill in recent weeks, adding to the urgency of the situation.
The administration has not issued any formal clarification. Parents are now demanding an immediate suspension of in-person classes until the premises are fumigated and declared safe.
RTE Violations: Over 175 Illegal Schools Under Scanner
This incident has brought to light a wider systemic issue in Thane. According to education rights activist Nitin Dalvi, over 175 schools are allegedly operating without Right to Education (RTE) approval. His complaint to the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR) has triggered a directive to the Director of Primary Education to conduct a statewide audit.
The Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT) has consistently reported on elite institutions—including Gautam Singhania’s Global School (GSGS)—for operating unauthorized branches without adhering to RTE norms, raising concerns about student welfare and regulatory accountability.
Authorities Must Act: Public Health at Risk
Health experts warn that open construction zones within school premises can accelerate the spread of vector-borne diseases like dengue. In high-density urban regions like Thane, such negligence could easily escalate into a broader public health emergency.
A visibly anxious parent told Sprouts News, “They are playing with our children’s health. Until the school is safe, physical classes must be suspended or shifted elsewhere.”
The Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT) calls upon the Thane Municipal Corporation, the Maharashtra Education Department, and the Child Rights Commission to launch a full forensic audit of the school, impose strict penalties, and ensure immediate compliance with RTE and public health regulations.
Gautam Singhania’s Educational Empire Tarnishing His Father’s Legacy
The legacy of industrialist Vijaypat Singhania, known for pioneering quality education through the Raymond-supported Singhania schools, is now facing erosion under his son Gautam Singhania’s stewardship. Despite the family’s reputed association with excellence, the Suniti Devi Singhania School in Thane—currently overseen by Gautam’s education team—is mired in controversy following a serious dengue outbreak. With 22 students and 5 teachers infected, the incident has exposed alarming lapses in school safety, hygiene, and accountability.
The Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT) has uncovered that this is not an isolated failure. Unsafe construction activity on campus, stagnant water, and poor vector control have created an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. The Thane Municipal Corporation’s (TMC) inspection report further reveals administrative negligence, prompting a Show Cause Notice. What was once a symbol of disciplined educational ethos now risks becoming a case study in regulatory violations and public health mismanagement.
Singhania’s Global School Group Under Fire for Illegal Operations
Adding to the controversy is the ongoing operation of Gautam Singhania’s Global School (GSGS), which, as reported by SIT, continues to run unauthorized and unrecognized branches without Right to Education (RTE) compliance. This not only violates state regulations but also puts students’ legal and educational rights at risk. Education activists have filed formal complaints with the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR), leading to orders for a statewide inquiry into over 175 such schools in Thane.
These revelations point to a pattern of systemic disregard for both legal norms and student welfare under Gautam Singhania’s educational leadership. The Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT) urges urgent action from authorities to investigate how institutions bearing the Singhania name—once a hallmark of quality—are now allegedly operating outside legal bounds. Stakeholders must demand accountability to ensure that corporate interests do not compromise public health or foundational rights to education.
