A concerning incident unfolded at a district council school in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, where at least 80 students were hospitalized after consuming biscuits provided in a nutritional meal program. The children began experiencing symptoms of nausea and vomiting around 8:30 AM on Saturday at the Keket Jalgaon village school, according to local officials.
Upon receiving reports, the village head and administrative officials promptly rushed to the school. They organized transportation for the affected students, who were taken to the nearby rural hospital for treatment. The condition of the students is currently reported to be stable.
Initially, around 257 students reported symptoms of food poisoning after consuming the biscuits. Of these, 153 were taken to the hospital. Some were treated and sent home, while seven students exhibiting severe symptoms were transferred to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Civil Hospital for further medical attention, as reported by India Today.
This incident highlights the critical need for rigorous food safety protocols in school meal programs. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the food poisoning, aiming to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
This incident is not an isolated case. Earlier this month, more than 80 children residing in the hostel of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Ashram School in Mehroona village, Uttar Pradesh, fell ill with symptoms of stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea after consuming their school meal. The situation tragically led to the death of a 14-year-old student, Shivam Yadav, during treatment at Gorakhpur Medical College.
The school, run by the state’s Social Welfare Department, provides free residential education to deserving students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds. According to the official website, 94 such schools are currently operational across Uttar Pradesh.
In response to the incident in Mehroona village, the contractor of the school hostel mess, Rajesh Kumar Gupta, was apprehended near Padrimal Mor on the Baikunthpur-Deoria road and subsequently sent to jail. This case further underscores the importance of strict oversight and accountability in ensuring the safety and well-being of students in school meal programs.
