TV
Over 80 students of two schools in Bolangir and Kandhamal districts fell sick after consuming mid-day meal on Saturday.
As per reports, as many as 68 students of Government Project UP School at Dengapadar under Muribahal block in Bolangir district were taken ill after having mid-day meal.
Sources informed that the students of the said school started vomiting moments after having their mid-day meal. The teachers and local people rushed some seriously ill students to Titlagarh government hospital in a 108 ambulance.
At the time of filing the report, a medical team was in the village trying to find out the cause of the health issues. At the same time, as tension erupted in the village, police officers were on the spot trying to pacify the irate villagers.
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While the students were undergoing treatment, it was suspected that instead of salt, detergent powder was used in the cooking.
However, the Block Education Officer (BEO) of Muribahal said after washing their plates with detergent powder, the students drank the detergent-mixed water remaining on their plates.
“I have been told that after consuming food, the students washed their plates with detergent powder. But they didn’t wash them properly and drank water from them. The matter is being probed,” said Santanu Parihar, BEO, Muribahal.
In the second incident, after having their mid-day meals, the students of Simonbadi Upper Primary School in Daringbadi of Kandhamal district developed symptoms such as vomiting and severe stomachache.
In the mid-day meal, they were given rice and egg curry.
The school authorities swung into action and rushed over 20 students to Simanbadi government hospital.
According to the doctor treating the students, it was a case of food poisoning.
“After having the food, they played for 15 to 20 minutes. Then they complained of stomachache. At around 1.50 pm, when they complained of severe pain, I rushed them to the hospital in an auto-rickshaw. Some students told me that the rice was testing a bit sour. I think the SHG engaged to supply mid-day meals may not have followed the standard procedures of food preparations,” said Bideshi Nayak, headmaster of Simonbadi Upper Primary School.
