Death toll in midday meal rises to 20, 27 still ill
feature, Nation 11:21
Patna, July 17: Nine more school students died on Wednesday due to food poisoning after consuming midday meal at a government primary school in Bihar's Saran district taking the death toll to 20.
Twenty seven others, including the woman cook, were taken seriously ill and have been shifted to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), Principal Secretary Education Department Amarjit Sinha said.
While 16 children, aged below 10 years and studying in Class I to V, had died in Chhapra itself, four others were declared dead on arrival at PMCH late Tuesday night, Sinha said.
Superintendent of PMCH Amarkant Jha Azad said that the victims were admitted to ICU of paediatric department and senior doctors were attending on them round the clock.
The tragedy took place at the government primary school in Dahrmasati Gandawan village at Mashrakh block, about 25 km from Chhapra and 60 km from state capital on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, opposition BJP on Wednesday gave a call for Saran bandh to protest the Nitish Kumar government following the midday meal deaths.
The RJD is also observing Saran bandh on Wednesday in protest against the incident.
Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Nand Kishore Yadav, his counterpart in Legislative Council Sushil Kumar Modi and state BJP President Mangal Pandey have already left for Mashrakh to meet families of victims and participate in Saran bandh.
The children fell ill soon after eating the meal, which consisted of rice, pulse and soyabean, police said.
They were rushed to Chhapra Sadar hospital. Later 27 of them, including the cook, were admitted to PMCH Patna on Tuesday night.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered a high level inquiry into the incident, sources in the CMO said, adding that a Forensic Science Laboratory team will assist in the probe, which will be conducted jointly by Saran Divisional Commissioner and DIG.
The HRD Ministry rushed a senior official to the state to take stock of the situation.
Amarjit Singh, additional secretary in the ministry supervising the mid-day meal programme in the country, has been sent to take stock of the situation after the tragic incident, sources in the ministry said.
Kumar also announced a compensation of Rs two lakh each to the families of the deceased. Of this, Rs 1.5 lakh is from the Disaster Management Fund and Rs 50,000 from CM's Relief Fund.
Chhapra falls in the Lok Sabha constituency of RJD President Lalu Prasad.
While 16 children, aged below 10 years and studying in Class I to V, had died in Chhapra itself, four others were declared dead on arrival at PMCH late Tuesday night, Sinha said.
Superintendent of PMCH Amarkant Jha Azad said that the victims were admitted to ICU of paediatric department and senior doctors were attending on them round the clock.
The tragedy took place at the government primary school in Dahrmasati Gandawan village at Mashrakh block, about 25 km from Chhapra and 60 km from state capital on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, opposition BJP on Wednesday gave a call for Saran bandh to protest the Nitish Kumar government following the midday meal deaths.
The RJD is also observing Saran bandh on Wednesday in protest against the incident.
Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Nand Kishore Yadav, his counterpart in Legislative Council Sushil Kumar Modi and state BJP President Mangal Pandey have already left for Mashrakh to meet families of victims and participate in Saran bandh.
The children fell ill soon after eating the meal, which consisted of rice, pulse and soyabean, police said.
They were rushed to Chhapra Sadar hospital. Later 27 of them, including the cook, were admitted to PMCH Patna on Tuesday night.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered a high level inquiry into the incident, sources in the CMO said, adding that a Forensic Science Laboratory team will assist in the probe, which will be conducted jointly by Saran Divisional Commissioner and DIG.
The HRD Ministry rushed a senior official to the state to take stock of the situation.
Amarjit Singh, additional secretary in the ministry supervising the mid-day meal programme in the country, has been sent to take stock of the situation after the tragic incident, sources in the ministry said.
Kumar also announced a compensation of Rs two lakh each to the families of the deceased. Of this, Rs 1.5 lakh is from the Disaster Management Fund and Rs 50,000 from CM's Relief Fund.
Chhapra falls in the Lok Sabha constituency of RJD President Lalu Prasad.
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