Indore school children fall ill after eating mid-day meal, food samples sent for testing

Over 30 students of a government school in Indore fell ill after consuming a mid-day meal on Saturday. Nineteen children were hospitalised, with four kept in ICU for observation. Authorities collected food samples to determine the cause

Indore: More than 30 children fell ill after consuming mid-day meal at a government school in Sanwer area of Madhya Pradesh’s Indore district on Saturday, officials said.

The incident took place at a government school in Sinhana village under Dharampur area where students were served kadhi-chawal during lunch under the mid-day meal scheme.

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According to preliminary information, 19 children have been admitted to Aurobindo Hospital in Indore, while four of them have been kept in the ICU as a precautionary measure.

More than 30 others are under medical observation.

“Soon after consuming the meal, several children complained of stomach pain, dizziness, headache, vomiting and fever,” an official said.

The school staff immediately informed the parents and the district administration.

The affected children were rushed to Aurobindo Hospital.

A senior doctor at Aurobindo Hospital said none of the children were in critical condition.

“Four children have been kept in the ICU for close monitoring as a precautionary measure. Others have been kept under observation for six hours. Their condition is stable,” a doctor told IANS requesting anonymity.

The simultaneous illness of several children after consuming the same meal has raised suspicion of food poisoning, though authorities are yet to confirm the exact cause.

A district administration official said food samples have been collected and sent for laboratory testing.

Following the incident, a team of health department of Indore reached school for inspection and collected samples of meal served to the children.

Further action will be taken based on the food sample reports, an official said.

The incident triggered panic among parents, many of whom rushed to the hospital after receiving information about their children.

All the affected children are currently under medical supervision and their condition is being monitored.