45 Students Hospitalized After Mid-Day Meal, FIR Filed
Incident Overview
The police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against a private school in the Thane district of Maharashtra after 45 students, aged 8 to 11, fell ill due to suspected food poisoning. The children became unwell after consuming a mid-day meal provided by the school.
Initial Hospital Admissions
On Tuesday, 38 students were rushed to a civic hospital in Kalwa after experiencing symptoms like
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Stomach pain
Later that night, seven more children were admitted, bringing the total number of affected students to 45.
Legal Action and Investigation
After a parent complained, the Kalwa police registered an FIR against the school management as well as the food supplier. The charges fall under Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which addresses endangering others’ safety or lives through negligence, as well as relevant Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations. No arrests have been made, but a detailed investigation is underway.
Medical Update on the Children
Dr. Aniruddha Malgaonkar, the hospital’s medical in-charge, confirmed that the children are under observation. According to an official from the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), 37 of the children are in stable condition and are expected to be discharged after 24 hours of observation by 5 PM Wednesday. However, eight children are still being monitored closely due to symptoms of fever and vomiting.
Food Sample Collection and Further Investigation
The children had consumed a mid-day meal that included rice and moth bean (matki) curry, according to reports. FDA officials have collected food samples for further analysis. Initially, only five students reported feeling unwell, but the affected children gradually increased throughout the day. Ambulances were quickly called by the school, and the students were transported to the hospital. Concerned parents remained with their children at the medical facility as they received treatment.
Source: Inputs from various media SourcesÂ
