17 children fall ill after eating mid-day meal at school in Mumbai suburb

Police are investigating if there was any negligence

Seventeen students and a teacher from Bhandup’s Sahyadri Vidya Mandir had to be admitted to hospital on Thursday morning to treat symptoms of food poisoning after they ate the mid-day meal served at the school.

Some of the students who fell ill undergo treatment in Mulund, Mumbai on Thursday. (PRAFUL GANGURDE/HT PHOTO)

Over 700 students from Classes 5 to 8 were served dal and rice around 11am and students from Section C of Class 7, along with their class teacher, complained of nausea and abdominal pain. They were taken to the municipal MT Agarwal Hospital, Mulund, and are reported to be in a stable condition. “After students and the teacher fell sick, we rushed them to the hospital immediately. Lingeshwar Self-help Group, Bhandup (West) has been providing mid-day meal to the school over the past 3-4 years. We have stopped their services until further notice,” said Narayan Sawant, trustee of the school.

The police said they were investigating if there was any negligence. “The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have collected the samples and we are proving them assistance,” said Akhileshkumar Singh, deputy commissioner of police, Zone 7.

Archana Shirke, a Bhandup resident whose twins were among those taken to the hospital, said they got to know about the incident only when they went to school around 1pm to pick up their kids. “We were told that the children took ill, while some started vomiting others complained of severe stomach ache after eating the midday meal. But there is no doubt that the school handled the situation effectively,” said Shirke.

“They came with complaints of vomiting and abdominal pain but there were no episodes after admission,” said Dr Usha Mhoprekar, medical superintendent. “We ensured they are hydrated enough and immediately started medication to counter any possible food poisoning effect. They are all stable now and are likely to be discharged by Friday morning.”