As many as about 80 boys of the Kandulbeda Sevashram in Ramgiri gram panchayat in Korpaut district were taken ill after having dinner on Sunday.
Sources said two of the students were admitted in the Jehpore Sub-Divisional Hospital as their condition deteriorated on Monday and 23 were undergoing treatment at the Boipariguda hospital.
By the time a student complained that a kind of pesticide smell was coming from the dinner, 80 of 225 boys had eaten the dinner and started vomiting. They were all sent to the Ramgiri health centre first for treatment. Though the sevashram has 100 girls, separate food is prepared for them, sources added. When contacted, district Collector Yamini Sarangi said a team led by the DSW has been sent to the school to take stock of the situation. Strict action would be taken against persons found guilty, she said.