25 students of panchayat school fall ill after having snacks at police event

Rourkela: As many as 25 students of Salangabud Panchayat High School in Sadar block of Sundargarh district, fell ill in the early hours of Thursday after having snacks at a police awareness programme the previous evening and thereafter dinner in their school hostel.Sundargarh district education officer (DEO) directed the block education officer to conduct an inquiry and submit a report in the matter. “The health condition of the students are stable now,” said DEO Murlidhar Behera, who visited the students.The students of Class VIII and IX, who stayed in hostel, had gone to a cyber awareness programme, conducted by Dharuadih police on Wednesday evening, where they had snacks, including ‘samosa’, ‘aloochop’ and ‘bara’.

On Wednesday night, they even took dinner of rice, dal and mashed potatoes in the hostel. Later in the night, the 25 students complained of stomachache, diarrhoea and vomiting, leading to suspicion of food poisoning.They were taken to Majhapada CHC on Thursday. Six boys and 11 girls are getting treatment there, while eight girls have been admitted to Government Medical College and Hospital.Saudamini Nag, inspector in charge, of Dharuadih police station said others who attended the programme were also given the same snacks packet but their health is fine. “In view of the illness of the students, I have initiated an inquiry. We will take a food safety official to the snacks shop concerned for inspection,” she said.Collector Subhankar Mohapatra and OSCPCR chairperson Babita Patra also visited the students.In a review meeting, Patra told the officials to take action against the snack seller.