4 students admitted to hospital after milk poisoning

Less than a month after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) began distributing free milk in civic schools, four students from Prabodhan Thackeray school in Sewri were admitted to KEM hospital because of milk poisoning on Friday.

Less than a month after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) began distributing free milk in civic schools, four students from Prabodhan Thackeray school in Sewri were admitted to KEM hospital because of milk poisoning on Friday.

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Though the students, aged 10-11 years, were discharged on Saturday, the incident has reopened the controversy of BMC’s flavoured milk scheme that was discontinued several times in the past because of similar instances of milk poisoning. However, in May, the contracts were renewed and the scheme was resumed.

The civic body, however, is yet to decide on any action to be taken against the contractor. “It should be noted that only four of the hundreds of students, who consumed the milk, fell ill. There could be any other reason behind it. We have given a notice to the contractor and after examining the reports from doctors and concerned education officers, we would decide if further action needs to be taken,” said Arvind Hire, deputy municipal commissioner (education).
Some opposition members, however, have demanded that the scheme be revoked.