Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Sep 23: A number of students of the government higher primary school in Valalu in the taluk complained of stomach ache and vomitted, after consuming the afternoon food served under the hot meals programme of the government, on Wednesday September 22.

It is reported that two students had initially complained of nausea, and vomitted thereafter. This gave rise to a mass hysteria-like reaction, when over 40 children complained of stomach ache and started vomitting. The locals, including tourist jeep drivers, carried the sick children to Uppinangady community health centre in various vehicles, where the students were provided first aid by the doctors.

Out of them, six children, who complained of exhaustion, were admitted to Puttur government hospital. These students, identified as Marzooka (5), Hazira (11), Lavanya (8), Yatikumari (12), Ralia (11) and Sahina (9) are recovering. The other 39 children were admitted into different private hospitals here. An ambulance and a government doctor were deployed near the school thereafter. However, no such cases were reported thereafter.

In the light of this incident, local assistant commissioner, Dr Harish Kumar, held an emergency meeting of government doctors, employees of the education department and Akshara Dasoha scheme officials, and warned them to strictly follow the instructions issued by the government. He told them that it is mandatory for the teachers to consume the food prepared under the scheme, at least half an hour before it is served to the students. He instructed the assistant commissioner of the scheme to file a detailed report about the incident with him within a day, and visited the children undergoing treatment in different hospitals.

As per the instructions of the assistant superintendent of police, Amit Singh, Uppinangady policemen collected the samples of food prepared at the said school on Wednesday, and handed it over to the department of health for being tested through labs.