Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) authorities on Tuesday raided a school named Omm Gurukul at Badagada in the Capital City for blatant violation of Covid-19 norms. The school was fined Rs 10,000 for flouting the pandemic guidelines issued by the Odisha government.
According to reports, the school was running offline classes on its premises when the BMC authorities raided the institution. It was also found during the raid that the residential school was providing food and accommodation facilities to more than 30 students.
“We were only teaching the relatives of our staff with all the Covid-19 guidelines in place. Outside students were not allowed in the class. All of them have been sent home. So there has been no question of violating the pandemic norms,” said the school authority.
However, according to the BMC officials, it was a clear violation of the guidelines.
“Keeping in view of the surge in Covid-19 in the State, Odisha government has ordered the closure of all the educational institutions in the State from April 19. Keeping so many students in school premises is a clear violation of the pandemic norm. We have levied a fine on the school and asked its authority to send all the students to their houses by this evening,” said a BMC official.
However, a decision regarding sealing of the school building is yet to be taken.
“We will discuss the matter with our higher authorities and further course of action will be taken after the deliberation,” said the official.
(Edited By Mrunal Manmay Dash)