Team Herald

PANJIM: The Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) has issued notices to the State government and two schools in Mapusa in the wake of suspected mid-day poisoning incidents, taking suo motu cognizance of media reports about students taking ill after consuming the alleged contaminated food in their respective schools. 

The notices issued by member A D Salkar are returnable on November 2, 2018 as Director of Education G P Bhat, Director of Food & Drugs Administration and headmasters of Junta High School and Ganesh Vidhya Mandir School have been directed to submit their reply. 

Students of Class V of Janta High School had complained of uneasiness after consuming ‘usal,’ which was served with pao. Around 36 students then complained of stomach ache and began vomiting after which they had to be rushed to District Hospital for treatment. Similarly, around seven students of Class III and IV of Ganesh Vidya Mandir School also complained of the same sickness after consuming the same mid-day meal. They too were taken to the District Hospital. The FDA had collected samples for analysis however as per initial reports it is suspected to be a case of food poisoning.