Bhubaneswar: Amid growing concerns over the diarrhoea outbreak in Odisha, schools across the state will reopen tomorrow (June 20) with the conclusion of summer vacation. School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond said that the decision to reopen schools in three diarrhoea-affected districts will depend on the respective District Collectors based on the prevailing situation.

The minister said that District Collectors have been empowered to keep schools closed if the situation becomes unmanageable. "The state government is seriously concerned about the diarrhoea situation. We have asked officials to monitor it closely in the vulnerable districts before resuming school activities," Gond said.

To ensure students' safety, several precautionary measures have been mandated. Schools without access to water purification systems must provide students with boiled drinking water. Mid-day meal cooks have been instructed to serve hot meals along with boiled water. Similar arrangements will be made in residential schools for hostel inmates, the minister said.

Emphasis will be laid on cleaning the school premises and water tanks. Fast food stalls near school campuses will remain shut to avoid any risk of foodborne illness. Parents will be called to schools and made aware of the safety protocols. Cleanliness and hygiene in school campuses will be prioritised, he added.