Twenty two students of Rajkiya Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya in Patparganj were taken ill on Thursday after eating the mid-day meal. After having mid-day meal, they complained of stomach ache and uneasiness. However, teachers did not pay heed to their complaints saying that they had also consumed the same food. After returning from they complained to their parents who in turn contacted local councillor Sandhya Verma.
The councillor rushed 12 students to lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital in her personal vehicle. Doctors said all girls brought to the hospital responded to the treatment and their condition is stable.The remaining 10 students were taken by their parents to other hospitals and to their family doctors. The students were from Classes II, V, VI and VII.A case of negligence under section 337 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered against the contractor-- Veer Singh of Ambedkar Seva Sansthan, who supplied food to the school.
The officials of the Midday meal branch including office superintendent with representative of Sriram Institute for Industrial Research has lifted food sample. A sample was also handed over to the Delhi Police for forensic examination.Directorate of Education of the Delhi Government Padmini Singla said as the incident came to the notice of the Deputy Director of Education (East), two principals of the nearby schools were sent to the hospital where the students were admitted. “The Deputy Director (East) met the Deputy Medical Superintendent of the Hospital who has constituted a committee of doctors for regular observation of the students. Now all the students' condition is stable and under control,” she said.
Soon after the incident, East Delhi MP Maheish Girri accompanying by BJP leaders and local MlA Manish Sisodia visited the school. later in the evening, the principal of the school Vijaya Kumari reached the hospital and met the parents and the students.A senior police official said that the food was served around 12.30 pm and they were served Rajma and rice in their meal.
“While students were having their meal, one of them noticed white worms in the meal but by that time many students had already finished their meal. After a while the students started to complain of stomach pain and uneasiness. Parents who were waiting for their wards to finish school were in for a shock when they came to know about the incident. They then informed the police and the councillor of Patparganj area, Sandhya Verma,” a police official said.