Many people in tribal hamlets in the Agency, including students, who are staying in the Social Welfare hostels, falling prey to malaria. The student unions are questioning the government why students are dying in the residential school hostels, while the former TDP MP alleged that the students are dying due to the negligence of the government. The former MP of Parvatipuram approached the National Human Rights Commission in this regard as a last resort last year. This year too he will be sending a report about the horrible condition of this residential school which is deprived of basic amenities.

Tompalapadu village is situated in Kurupam, the Agency area in Vizianagaram district. The area was represented by Kishore Chandra Deo, the Union of Minister of State for Tribal Welfare. However, the area was hogging limelight for the wrong reasons. The very mention of the name of the village is scaring the ITDA and medical and health department officials as within a span of a week three students died and 82 others are suffering from malaria. The deaths came to the fore when they died while undergoing treatment at Visakhapatnam. Nasreen, Biddika Nirmala and Karmial succumbed to malaria, while others, who are suffering from malaria are leaving for homes with the fear of malaria.

The students are unable to digest the deaths of their peers. In fact, rumour was spread like wild fire in the villages that a devil was haunting the Tompalapadu residential school hostel as students are dying. Moreover, the hostel, which was filled with 216 students, was wearing a deserted look, as on now only 26 were left in the hostel. The tribal welfare department officials, principal and teachers tried to convince the parents of the students, but in vain as they told them that if the teachers stay with them then they would send their children.

However, the state of this residential school is in a pitiable condition as there are only five rooms, which were being used for teaching, dining and sleeping. Surprisingly, the district administration constructing the building was itself a big achievement. The whole building was in a pathetic condition as the walls were dotted moss, hanging cobwebs, dishevelled iron rods and the premises would be inundated with water when it rains and foul emanates with the mixing of drainage water. Sadly, the students did not have potable water as they are drinking dirty water. It may be recalled that the student unions took out padayatras to highlight the problems of this school.

Surprisingly, this village falls under the constituency of a tribal MLA and union minister who happened to be tribals, but there was no development in the village. The officials are also tribals, but they are turning a blind eye towards the cries of tribal students. The MLA, MP and officials not even cared to console the kin of the deceased students.

Former Parvatipuram MP and TDP leader DVG Shanker Rao, who came to know about the condition of the school, plans to  submit a report to the National Human Rights Commission about the school's status soon. It may be noted that last year he sent a report to the National Human Rights Commission and, in turn, it sent a team to the school and submitted a report to the Andhra Pradesh Government alleging that there were no medicines to cure malaria, no mosquito nets, no drinking water and no nutritious food to the students.

However, the State Government washed its hands off disclosing that it did not have enough funds to provide all the amenities in the school.

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