Kota: Twenty-seven students of a government school in Rajasthan’s Kota district fell ill on Monday after eating their midday meal, with several children reporting vomiting and other health problems.
The incident took place at the Pooniya Devari Government Upper Primary School in the Pooniya Devari area near Ranpur. Five students were admitted to the New Medical College Hospital, while the others were taken to the Ranpur Urban Primary Health Centre for medical care.
The meal, comprising pumpkin curry, dal and chapatis, was supplied to the school by an Annapurna Rasoi in Kalyan Nagar. The facility provides meals to seven or eight schools, including the Pooniya Devari institution, school principal Chandra Prakash Meena said.
Students Develop Symptoms
The children had lunch at around 11 a.m., and students began complaining shortly after noon. According to the principal, some students left for home after classes ended but later returned to the school after feeling unwell. Parents of several children from the locality also reached the school after hearing about the incident, as reported by ETV Bharat.
The affected students are reportedly between seven and 12 years old.
“All the children are safe and receiving treatment. Most of them have been sent home after receiving first aid. None of the children is in serious condition,” Pooniya said.
Probe Underway
After the administration was informed, officials from the Health and Medical Department reached the school. Senior Education Department officials also visited the institution and initiated an inquiry into the incident.
Police personnel gathered details about the affected children, while Food Safety Department officials collected samples of the food served to the students. Ranpur police station officer Ramesh Kavia also visited the school.
Food Safety Inspector Chandraveer Singh Jadon said action had been initiated in connection with the incident. The samples will be examined to establish whether contamination in the meal caused the students to fall ill.