Team Herald
MAPUSA: Thirty-six students fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal supplied at Janata High School, Mapusa on Friday. They complained of uneasiness few minutes after consuming the mid-day meal supplied to them at the school premises. The students were later admitted to the District Hospital, Mapusa.
The Headmaster of the school, Ratnakant Chatim, informed Herald that as usual at 10.30 am the mid-day meal was supplied to them. The school has a tea break between 11.00 am and 11.15 am. “On receiving the meal, as usual the teachers tasted the preparation. Around 11.00 am we began serving the meal to children from Class I to VIII. Within few minutes of consumption they started complaining of uneasiness, stomach pain and vomiting sensation,” he said.
Initially the teachers allowed three children to go to the washroom after which many more followed. The headmaster and teachers put the children in the Bal Rath bus and sent them to Mapusa District Hospital. After taking the students to the hospital, the school authorities contacted the Assistant District Educational Inspectors (ADEI), who came and took the report. The Director of Education was also informed. The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) officials also visited the school and took the sample.
The headmaster also informed that the same midday meal was served to the primary section from Class I to IV comprising around 144 students but none of them showed any symptoms of uneasiness. The students were discharged at around 2.15 pm after being kept under observation for few hours. The meal served to the students comprised white peas and potatoes with bread and was prepared by Sri Ram self-help group from Colvale.
The Director of Education, Gajanan Bhat, confirmed that 36 students from Janata High School took ill after having the mid-day meal. However, till late evening they were awaiting the report of the samples taken by FDA for testing.
