The condition of tribal-dominated Vikramgadh tehsil of Palghar district, facing the problem of malnutrition and death of children, seems to be aggravating as over two dozen students of a government-run residential school were hospitalised on Friday after being taken ill. An 11-year-old girl from the same school also died recently.

According to Palghar district civil surgeon Dr Kanchan Wanere, 23 students from Ashram School were brought to the Jawhar Hospital (Patangshah Kutir Rugnalaya) Friday evening, after they complained of high fever and body ache. Of the 23 students, seven have tested positive for typhoid and the rest have been kept under observation, she said adding that among those hospitalised, and girls outnumbered the boys. Meanwhile, another girl from the Ashram School, who was hospitalised on Thursday night, was transferred to Nashik Civil Hospital after her condition deteriorated.

Meanwhile activist and former MLA Vivek Pandit, who visited the school, alleged there was no warden there, no reliable water supply and said the conditions were unhygienic.

These incidents have triggered political reactions, with leader of Opposition in Assembly Radhkrishna Vikhe-Patil seeking registration of a murder case against tribal development minister Vishnu Savara for apathy and mismanagement.