Students hospitalized after mid-Day meal in school

Icchawar, Madhya Pradesh: Eight children were admitted to the Sehore district hospital in a serious condition after consuming a mid-day meal at their local school on Friday; but were now out of danger, hospital authorities said.

A total of 59 students of the Balampur Middle School had fallen ill on Friday after they had a special meal prepared on the occasion of Independence Day. The children, soon after they started eating, complained of nausea and vomiting tendencies. While 51 students had been admitted to a local hospital in Icchawar, eight others, in a serious condition, were admitted to the Sehore district hospital.

All the 51 students have been discharged already. The Sub-Divisional Magistrate has lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against the self-help group which supplied the meal to the school on Friday.

Locals alleged that sub-standard ingredients were used to prepare the food which led to the students falling sick. A teacher, responsible for tasting the food before it is served to students, has also been suspended.