On the heels of yesterday's fire tragedy that claimed 90 lives at a private school in Kumbakonam, the Salem district administration today swung into action and ordered the closure of 86 private unrecognised schools.

The students of these schools would be admitted to various recognised schools, A Sukumaran, district collector told reporters in Salem, in Tamil Nadu.

All schools with thatched roof in the district have been asked to close down immediately. The tahsildars have been directed to ensure that the schools complied with the order, he said.

A complaint cell has also been opened in the collectorate for the people to register their complaints against errant schools.