With the death of two more children on Wednesday, the mid-day meal toll in Saran district rose to 22 even as at least three kids are struggling for their lives at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH).
In another incident, 50 children of a Government school fell sick after consuming mid-day meal that allegedly contained a dead lizard in Madhubani on Wednesday. After having the meal at Navotila Middle School, students felt pain in stomach and began vomiting. The school administration rushed them to Bisfi Health Centre, where seven children are undergoing treatment. Rest of them were discharged from the hospital after first aid.
District Magistrate lokesh Kumar, however, vehemently denied the report about a dead lizard in the meal. “All the students are out of danger,” he added.
In the Saran tragedy, at least 16 children died at Chhapra hospital on Tuesday night, while four others were declared brought dead at PMCH. Two other children died at PMCH on Wednesday morning.
A preliminary investigation has confirmed that the food served to students had traces of Organophosphate, which is used as an insecticide on rice and wheat crops. Organophosphate insecticides have an effect on nervous system, respiratory tract and cardiovascular system.
Meanwhile, protesters burnt police vehicles in Saran district. “I want to know from the government why poor kids were not rushed to Patna in the first place,” asked Rameshwar Mahto, who lost three grandchildren in the tragedy.
He demanded capital punishment for the teacher who bought foodgrains and other grocery items for the mid-day meal. “I lost two granddaughters, Aarti Kuamri (7), Shanti Kumari (5) and a grandson, Vikas Kumar (3.5) in the incident,” he said. PMCH doctor Nigam Prakash told The Pioneer that children were responding to medicines and adequate arrangements had been made in the hospital for their proper treatment.
Hundreds of people, anguished over the tragedy, protested against the District Magistrate of Saran in Chhapra by demonstrating before his official residence on Wednesday. They also raised slogans against the Nitish Kumar Government.
A case has been registered against the school’s headmistress Meena Devi and other teachers who fled from the village after the incident. In another incident, a child died and 21 other children fell ill after taking vitamin A tablets given to them at an anganwadi centre in Gaya district on Wednesday.
The tablets were given to children, aged between 8 to 12, by the anganwadi centre at Kumbharan Bigha village under Atri police station, District Magistrate Bala Murugan D said.
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