25 students fall ill after taking mid day meal

Bolangir: At least 25 inmates of Banjhipalli school hostel under Khaprakhol Block of Patnagarh in the district were taken ill on Saturday after taking mid-day meal in the school.

Soon after the incident, all the affected students have been shifted to Patnagarh hospital for treatment. The condition of two students is reportedly critical.

Sources said, all the students had taken puffed rice mixture in their breakfast. But after having lunch around 12:30 pm, they all felt nausea and started vomiting. Hostel authorities immediately rushed the students to hospital in an ambulance.

Though the food cooked for mid day meal is suspected to be behind the condition of the students, the hostel authorities are waiting for the food sample test report.

Meanwhile Patnagarh sub-collector has started investigation into the matter.

“We will investigate under which condition the students fell ill and if needed action will be taken against the erring functionaries,” the official said.