Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, May 18: Around 25 students of Government school Ghatti near here were taken ill after having the mid-day meal today. All the students were hospitalized and later discharged in the evening after treatment.
Taking quick action in the matter Chief Education Officer, (CEO), Kathua, Balbir Singh ordered suspension of incharge Headmaster of the School Angrez Singh and incharge mid-day meal teacher Inderjit. Besides, other staff members have also been chargesheeted. The district administration has also ordered the probe into the incident.
Panic gripped the village after the news spread that 25 students have fallen ill after taking the mid-day meal and Sarpanch of Ghatti village J P Singh and other prominent people rushed to the school.
“Around 25 students of Government Middle School, Ghatti complained of nausea and vomiting with pain in their stomach after having the mid-day meal being served in the school and they have been hospitalised,” Sarpanch of Ghatti village, J P Singh said.
The students were shifted to the Primary Health Centre (PHC) in the village from where they were shifted to the district hospital for specialised treatment.
The district administration has formed a committee headed by Chief Education Officer (CEO) of the district to inquire into the incident.
“As soon as I received the information, I formed a committee comprising tehsildar of the area, food inspector and the CEO. The team has been sent to the school to probe the incident,” Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Ramesh Kumar said.
He said anyone found guilty of serving sub-standard food to the students, would be dealt with as per law.
Senior officers visited the Hospital to inquire about the students welfare.
When contacted CEO Kathua, Balwinder Singh said that soon after the issue was brought into his notice he visited the School first and then DH Kathua to ascertain the facts. He said pending inquiry the Headmaster of the School and incharge mid day meal were placed under suspension by him besides other teachers were also charge sheeted.
The CEO said that mid-day meal is served for last 12 years in the School and there are three cooks for the same as two other primary schools were also linked to Middle School Ghatti for Mid Day meal and such a complaint has never been made so far.
He said it was for the first time that children were taken ill. The CEO said as per the preliminary reports the students had taken water from the nearby tank in the village after meals and this could have been one of the causes for poisoning. He said 80 children were served the mid-day meal in the school but only 25 fell ill. The teachers who also took the mid day meal did not make any such complaint, he added.
However, the villagers said that they were also drinking the water from the same tank and there was no complaint from any body. Children, however, alleged that stale Daal (pulses) was served to them that became the cause of food poisoning.
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