A Class 5 student died, and over 100 other children have fallen ill after having a meal at a government-run tribal residential school in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district.
The students fell ill after having the meal, which reportedly included fermented rice ('pakhala'), mashed potatoes, and mango chutney, at the Kakabandha Ashram School on Sunday morning.
Over 100 students were rushed to the local community health centre, from where 67 of them were shifted to the PMR Medical College and Hospital at Baripada in a serious state, PTI reported citing officials.
"Rupali Besra, a student of Class 5, had to be admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital on Monday. Despite continuous medical intervention, she died on Tuesday morning," Mayurbhanj district collector Hema Kanta Say, was quoted as saying by PTI.
"At present, 66 students are undergoing treatment at the hospital, while another 41 are admitted at the community health centre. One medical team has been sent to the health centre while another is camping at the school," he added.
Some more students are being admitted to the hospital, the district collector said.
Officials claimed the food items were "not mentioned in the authorised menu" of the school.
"Besides the police probe, we will conduct an independent inquiry, as it was alleged that the headmaster had served food that was not mentioned in the menu. Action will be taken against teachers and officials responsible for the incident," the collector said.
A police case has been registered based on a complaint lodged by the deceased's mother, he added.
After the incident came to light, villagers blocked the Rasgovindpur-Jaleswar road, demanding compensation for the deceased's family and action against the persons responsible for the incident.
The school's headteacher, Jayant Kumar Panigrahi, has been suspended for negligence on duty, and the government has announced Rs 7 lakh ex gratia to the family of the deceased student, officials said.
Odisha Housing and Urban Development Krushna Chandra Mahapatra met with the students admitted to the hospital and spoke to their parents.
(With inputs from PTI)