Nearly 250 Students Of Palghar Ashram Schools Hospitalised With Food Poisoning Symptoms, Probe On

State Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and police personnel have collected food samples from the kitchen and sent them to laboratories for testing. 

Nearly 250 students of 20 ashram schools were rushed to nearby health facilities for treatment after they fell ill due to suspected food poisoning in Maharashtra's Palghar district on Monday.

The students at the ashram schools (residential facilities for tribal pupils) complained of symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and dizziness a couple of hours after eating dinner brought from the central kitchen at Kalamgaon on Monday, district collector Govind Bodke said while addressing the media, reported PTI. 

Around 150 students are reportedly still exhibiting health complications at primary health centres (PHCs) and rural hospitals at Kasa, Talasari, Wangaon, Palghar and Manor. However, their condition is said to be stable. Other students have been discharged.

A probe has been ordered in the matter. Upon receiving information about the situation, the district collector accompanied by senior officials of the district visited the students at the health centres where they were admitted. 

The officials also inspected the central kitchen from where food items were sourced.

State Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and police personnel reached the kitchen, collected food samples, and sent them to laboratories for testing. 

Bodke said the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) would investigate the incident, while the FDA and police would conduct their independent probes.

The affected ashram schools were functioning under the Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) and located in Dahanu, Palghar, Talasari and Vasai talukas of the district, Resident Deputy Collector Subhash Bhagade said, as reported by PTI.

Deoria School Food Poisoning 

The incident comes just days after nearly 80 students fell ill with suspected food poisoning on Sunday at Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Ashram Method Inter College in Mehroona village of UP's Deoria district.

On Sunday night, some students began to report vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain, dizziness, and chills. The students had reportedly eaten 'poori' and 'chhola’. The meal had allegedly been prepared during the day and was served again in the evening.

Aside from two students who were taken to a medical college, others were treated at the school by a team of doctors led by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO).