Minister directs officials to ensure safety of BC hostel students

Andhra Pradesh Minister for BC, EWS Welfare, Handlooms and Textiles S. Savitha has directed officials to remain vigilant and ensure the safety and health of students staying in BC welfare hostels and Gurukulams in view of Cyclone Arnab.On Tuesday, she instructed officials to provide students with fresh food and boiled and cooled drinking water and ensure that their health was not put at risk during the cyclone.The Minister spoke over the phone with BC Welfare Department Secretary S. Satyanarayana, Director Mallikarjuna and MJPTBCWREIS Secretary Madhavi Latha to review the precautionary measures being taken.Noting that 15 districts were experiencing heavy rainfall due to the cyclone, Ms. Savitha asked officials in the affected districts to remain alert and ensure coordination from the State level to the field level. Officials engaged in election duties were also instructed to remain in touch with their superiors and ensure that all necessary precautions were taken.She called for special attention to the safety and health of girls staying in BC welfare hostels and Gurukulams. Students housed in vulnerable buildings should be shifted to safer structures in view of the heavy rainfall, she said.The Minister directed officials to ensure that only fresh food and boiled and cooled drinking water were provided to students. Outside food should not be allowed into hostels and Gurukulams, she said.She also instructed officials to prevent water stagnation on hostel and Gurukulam premises and ensure that classrooms and dormitories remained dry. Students showing even minor signs of illness should be shifted to the nearest hospital immediately, she said, directing officials to take all necessary steps to prevent untoward incidents.Ms. Savitha further asked authorities to cancel staff leave wherever necessary to ensure adequate personnel were available to attend to students during the adverse weather conditions.She stressed the need for close coordination among officials and urged them to take every precaution to safeguard the lives and health of BC students during the cyclone. Published - October 27, 2026 08:13 pm IST