Bhubaneswar: Revenue Divisional Commissioner, Central Division, is scheduled to visit Rasagobindapur Ashram School in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district on Wednesday for a detailed on-ground probe into the suspected food poisoning incident that led to the death of a Class V student.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep sorrow over the demise of 12-year-old Rupali Beshra and ordered a high-level inquiry at the RDC level late Tuesday. He also announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 3 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to the bereaved family. The probe will focus on the exact circumstances under which the students fell ill after consuming food at the government-run residential school managed by the ST and SC Welfare Department, as well as the cause of the young girl’s death, a CMO release said.
A medical team, including experts from the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and a microbiologist currently stationed at Baripada, will also conduct health check-ups of the other children at the government Ashram School. A second medical team is also scheduled to visit this morning.
On April 12, nearly 146 students of the school fell ill after having pakhala (fermented rice), saga bhaja (fried green leaves), and aloo bharta (mashed potatoes) for breakfast, which was not part of the department-mandated nutrient-rich menu, which had scheduled upma and curry instead. They soon complained of severe diarrhoea, vomiting, and other symptoms of suspected food poisoning.
Rupali was shifted to PRM Medical College and Hospital in Baripada on Monday and succumbed while undergoing treatment in the ICU on Tuesday. As per the latest updates, around 60 students continue to receive treatment at the hospital, while about 40 others are recovering at Rasgovindpur community health centre. Several others were discharged after initial care.
Tensions escalated as the girl’s family and local residents staged protests outside the hospital and in the area around Jaleswar. They accused hostel staff of serving leftover food and failing to act promptly, alleging that the headmaster called an ambulance at 3.30 pm after they reached the hostel. They also demanded higher compensation of Rs 25 lakh. “She used to live in the hostel and I don’t know what was served there. The teachers brought my child to the hospital and upon reaching, I found that she was serious. She was transferred to another hospital, where she died…,” father of the deceased victim, Durga Besra told the media.
Meanwhile, the local administration suspended the school’s headmaster, Jayanta Kumar Panigrahi. Mayurbhanj Collector Hemakant Say confirmed that action would be taken against responsible teachers and officials, noting the food served deviated from the authorised menu.
Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra visited the hospital, assured a thorough investigation into any lapses, and emphasised that children’s health must not be compromised.
Opposition leaders, including Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhakta Charan Das, criticised the incident as a case of gross negligence and systemic failure in student safety at residential schools. A delegation of BJD led by Sudam Marandi also met the affected students and their families at the medical college.
