53 students taken ill after eating MDM, 9 critical

At least 53 students of Sogar Government Upper Primary School on Friday were hospitalised after consuming their Mid-Day Meal (MDM) at Kamakhyanagar block in Dhenkanal district.

All the students are currently undergoing treatment at Anlabereni community health centre (CHC). Nine of the students are stated to be critical. 

According to sources, the students were served soya beans with rice for the MDM today. Soon, they started vomiting and experienced severe stomach ache. The school principal has accused the local Self-Help Group (SHG) of providing low quality food to the students. 

“The soya bean that the SHG served to the students was infested with worms. First 8-10 students experienced vomiting. Soon, other students also experienced the same. Soon, I called a vehicle and admitted the students to the local CHC. Now, the condition of other students is also critical,” informed Headmistress Gitanjali Behera.

“Till now at least 36 students, both boys and girls, have been admitted to the hospital. One of them was critical. However, he is stable after we administered injection. Similarly five to six students were also critical after taking the worm-infested food. However, other 20 students are ill after being terrified due to the incident. They are panicked. But, they will be fine soon,” Chinmaya Samal, doctor at Anlabereni community health centre (CHC).