Hyderabad: About 22 students have been hospitalised after eating a mid-day meal at a government primary school in Venkatapuram, Narayankhed mandal, Sangareddy
district of Telangana.
The students had consumed sambhar rice for lunch and soon after, developed symptoms such as discomfort, and stomach pain, officials said.
They were shifted to a nearby hospital for medical care. District Collector Pravinya said that all 22 students are stable and have been discharged after treatment. MLA D Sanjeev Reddy, sub-collector Uma Harathi visited the hospital and interacted with affected students.
A police official in Narayankhed said that they have not yet received any complaint from parents. The details about cause of the illness are awaited.
Reports suggest that the mid-day meal has been prepared at the supplier’s residence for the last year as the construction of the cooking shed at the school was incomplete.
On Thursday, food prepared at the supplier’s house was served to 42 students. Around 22 students exhibited symptoms of vomiting, after which the staff stopped serving the meal to other students.
After being informed of the incident, parents rushed to the hospital and demanded strict action against those who were negligent for preparing unhygienic, unsafe meals.
Cook fired:
Mid-day meal cook identified as Nagamani was fired and District Education Officer (DEO) Venkateshwarlu issued a show-cause notice to in-charge headmaster Kashi Vishwanath.
MLA Sanjeeva Reddy said that mid-day meals should be only prepared at the school premises under the supervision of the headmaster and asked MEO Vishwanath to complete the pending construction work to start cooking at the school shed.
