In a concerning incident, nearly 70 students from a government school in southwest Delhi's Sagarpur area fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal provided at the school. The incident has prompted an immediate response from authorities, with a case registered and a show cause notice issued to the meal provider.According to police officers, students from classes 6 to 8 at the Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya in Durga Park experienced stomach pain and vomiting after having the mid-day meal on Friday. Swift action was taken, and the affected children were promptly transferred to Deen Dayal Upadhayay Hospital and Dada Dev Hospital in Dabri. Fortunately, the health of the children was reported to be stable.
The school authorities revealed that the meal included poori and sabzi, followed by a soya drink, which reportedly led to the onset of stomach pain and vomiting. Upon receiving complaints, the distribution of further food and drink was halted immediately.
The Delhi government issued a show cause notice to the mid-day meal provider, demanding a response within 24 hours. The government official emphasized that strict action would be taken against any parties found guilty. This incident has also served as a warning to all mid-day meal providers to ensure the safety and quality of the meals they offer.
To investigate the cause further, samples of the food and drink consumed by the students were collected by the police for testing. The initial suspicion pointed towards a drink that might have been beyond its expiry date, causing severe reactions among the students.
Medical professionals at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital reported that around 50 children who were brought in had complaints of severe vomiting, uneasiness, and gastric troubles. Some children had fallen unconscious, likely due to the adverse reactions. While a portion of the children with milder symptoms were discharged on the same day, those with more severe symptoms remained under close observation.
This incident underscores the importance of maintaining food safety standards in educational institutions. The health and well-being of students should be a top priority, and incidents like this emphasize the need for rigorous quality checks and timely responses to ensure such situations are avoided in the future.
