As many as 44 children belonging to different schools under lipinda panchayat in Jujumara block in Sambalpur district fell ill after consuming Boondi (sweets) served to them at their schools on the occasion of Independence Day celebrations on Monday.
The boondi like every other year was provided by the lipinda panchayat authorities.
The 44 sick schoolchildren were admitted to the District Headquarters Hospital as they suffered from diarrhoea. Their conditions are now stated to be stable.
Sambalpur Collector Samarth Verma said, “The schoolchildren were provided Boondi by the sarpanch. Accidentally, some kids developed sickness due to food poisoning. It's nothing that serious. The children are in a stable condition.” The Collector said an inquiry would be conducted into the incident.