BHAWANIPATNA: Except one, all students who fell ill after consuming mid-day meal in Lanjigarh block have been discharged from hospital. The lone student was shifted to VIMSAR, Burla but his condition is stable, said CDMO Labanya Prava Mund on Friday.
On Thursday, 80 students of five primary schools in Bandhpari, Lima, Dungri, Kubdi and Rajendrapur villages fell sick after consuming mid-day meal. Following the incident, the students were admitted to Biswanathpur and Bhawanipatna hospitals.
Bhawanipatna Sub-Collector and District Education Officer are investigating into the incident. Collector A K Manik said the exact cause will be ascertained after the enquiry.
Though mid-day meals were sent to all 176 schools from a single centralised kitchen, students of only five schools were affected, he said.
The mid-day meal is being prepared, managed and supplied by Mana Trust. Cooked food is being provided to 13,820 students of 176 schools in Lanjigarh block through hired vehicles.
There is a tripartite agreement among the State Government, Mana Trust and Vedanta to provide cooked food to students of all the schools. Accordingly, the Government is providing ration and funds for other recurring expenses.
Mana Trust is responsible for cooking the mid-day meals in a centralised kitchen and distribute the same to schools through hired vehicles. Vedanta has provided infrastructure like building, cooking apparatuses and utensils.