38 students fall ill after educational trip to Rani Falls, Food poisoning suspected

Thirty-eight students of PM Shri Upgraded Middle-cum-High School, Tilmi, fell ill after returning from an educational trip to Rani Falls on Saturday. Around 330 students had gone on the excursion.

After returning, several students complained of vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain and fever and were admitted to the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Karra. Due to a shortage of beds, some students reportedly had to receive treatment on the floor.

Civil Surgeon Dr Lalit Ranjan Pathak is camping at the CHC and monitoring the treatment. Food poisoning is among the preliminary possibilities being considered. Students were reportedly served dal, rice, pumpkin curry, potato fry and rasgulla during the trip. Some students also consumed cold drinks and other food items purchased from outside at Rani Falls.

Torpa MLA Sudip Gudiya and Khunti MLA Ramsurya Munda visited the hospital late at night after receiving information about the incident and took stock of the students' condition and treatment.

All the affected students are reportedly out of danger. A delegation led by the district Congress president also visited the hospital to enquire about the students' health and discussed necessary measures with the Civil Surgeon.

The exact cause of the illness has not yet been established. Officials are expected to determine through investigation whether the outbreak was linked to the food served during the excursion, outside food consumed by some students or another cause.