The headmistress of a primary school under Bonei sub-division was suspended from her job on Thursday after 19 students who are hostel inmates, were taken ill by eating Zilabi (a sweetmeat) distributed by her.
HM Sanjaya Sahoo of Bhaludunguri Primary School under Gurundia block faced the music for making the students eat the Zilabis without verifying the quality of the food.
Sources said there are 106 students in the school. 40 reside in a hostel of the school. According to sources, HM Sahoo had purchased Zilabi of her own on January 10 morning and served them as evening snacks to the inmates of the hostel. After consuming the Zilabis, as many as 19 students complained of vomiting and uneasiness. They were rushed to the Bonei sub division hospital from where one was rushed to the Rourkela Government Hospital, since his condition turned critical. The condition of all the 19 students is reportedly stable now.
Conducting an official inquiry into the incident, Block Education Officer of Gurundia block Susila Kujur found Sahoo to be guilty and suspended her.
“Zillabi was not in menu of the school hostel but headmistress Sanjaya Sahoo had purchased the same from local market in the morning and had given to the students in the hostel during evening time after which 19 students fell ill. Therefore, we suspended her,” Kujur said.