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74 Students Hospitalised in Punjab’s Sangrur After Food Poisoning, Food Contractor Arrested

Dec 2, 2023

Punjab Eucation Minister Harjot Singh Bains visited the hospital and met the children.
(Image: X)

18 students were admitted to the Sangrur civil hospital Friday evening and 56 were admitted on Saturday morning

Around 74 students of a government school at Ghabdan were hospitalised in Punjab’s Sangrur district after a suspected food poisoning on Friday evening.

Officials said that the students complained of stomach ache and vomitting after consuming the food prepared in the hostel mess following which they were rushed to the civil hospital.

18 students were admitted to the Sangrur civil hospital Friday evening and 56 were admitted on Saturday morning, as per the officials quoted by Indian Express. Among these 14 were discharged and the remaining 60 are currently at the PGIMER satellite centre in Sangrur and the civil hospital.

Following the incident, Punjab Education Minister Harjot Bains released a video message assuring that all the children are currently stable. He further said, “After few children complained about bad food on Friday evening, the authorities examined children as a precautionary measure. Most of them are in panic. However, we have kept them in observation in hospitals.”

Bains also said said that the food contractor has been arrested and his contract has been cancelled. He also said that an inquiry by the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) has been ordered in the matter. “The guilty will not be spared at any cost,” he added.

Sangrur Deputy Commissioner Jatindra Jorwal said an inquiry committee under the chairmanship of the SDM was formed to probe the matter. He added that a tehsildar and a civil surgeon was also made a part of the committee, which would submit its report within a week.

Food samples have been collected from the school and the stool and blood samples of the affected students have also been obtained, Jorwal said. As per a PTI report, students informed that they had earlier also complained about the food quality to the school authorities.

Some angry parents who reached the school after they learnt about the incident slammed the school authorities over their wards falling sick.

(with agency inputs)

About the Author

Aditi Ray Chowdhury

Aditi Ray Chowdhury works at the breaking news desk with News18.com as a News Trainee. She completed her graduation in Mass Communication and Journali…Read More

Source: News18

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