Pics by Rons Bantwal

Mumbai, Jul 3: Twenty nine students from the New English School in Thane were hospitalised on Friday morning after suffering from alleged food poisoning.
 
The students complained of dizziness and started vomiting after having idli and chutney in their mid-day meal, which is prepared by Shalini Mahila Mandal, a women’s self-help group, as part of the government’s food scheme.

The teachers, on realising that the symptoms were of food poisoning, rushed the students to the civil hospital. “600 students were present in the school on Friday.

While 450 of them ate the mid-day meal, only 29 complained of dizziness and vomiting,” said Ranjeet Shinde, a teacher. “Every day, we taste the food before serving it to students. Even today we ate the idlis before serving them.”

Off the 29 students, who were admitted to the hospital, 13 were discharged after treatment, while the rest have been kept under observation for a day.

“All students admitted to the hospital were complaining of nausea. All of them were treated by noon and they are now out of danger,” said Dr SM Tompe, civil surgeon at the Thane civil hospital.

According to doctors, such poisoning can happen due to consumption of stale food, or by drinking contaminated or impure water. “We have sent samples of the food eaten by the students to the government laboratory,” said Tompe.

While a report from the government laboratory is awaited, a case has been registered against the food contractor at the Naupada police station.

“We have directed the concerned officials to take stern action against the food supplier. There will also be a police enquiry into the matter,” said HK Jawale, CEO, Thane zilla parishad.