A concerning incident unfolded in Thane, Maharashtra, where nearly 40 students from a private school in the Manisha Nagar area of Kalwa fell ill after consuming food served as part of the mid-day meal program. The students were immediately rushed to Kalwa Civil Hospital after complaining of symptoms consistent with food poisoning.
According to reports, the students had eaten ‘Khichdi’ during the school’s afternoon meal. Shortly after, several students started experiencing symptoms like dizziness, nausea, headache, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Noticing the severity of the situation, school authorities swiftly transported the affected students to the hospital for medical attention. Parents were informed later in the evening about the incident.
“The primary information was that 24 students were having stomach pain. We sent the ambulance immediately. A total of 38 students have been admitted to the hospital…There is a suspicion of food poisoning in the meal of the school…All the students are stable. We will monitor them for 24 hours,” said Dr. Anirudh Malgaonkar, Dean of Kalwa Hospital. He reassured that the children are now stable and out of danger.
To investigate the cause of the illness, civic officials have collected food samples for testing. This incident in Thane mirrors similar incidents that have taken place in other parts of India. In August, 80 students from a district council school in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district were hospitalized after consuming biscuits given in a nutritional meal program. The children began experiencing nausea and vomiting, and some required further treatment at a larger hospital.
Furthermore, in Uttar Pradesh, more than 80 children staying at the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Ashram School hostel fell ill with symptoms of stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea after eating the school meal. Tragically, one student, Shivam Yadav (14), died during treatment at Gorakhpur Medical College.
These recurring incidents raise serious concerns about the safety of food provided in educational institutions across India. Authorities are urging for increased vigilance and thorough food safety checks to prevent such incidents from happening again. The focus is on ensuring that school meals are prepared in a hygienic environment and using fresh, safe ingredients to protect the health and well-being of students.
