The idli and sambar served for breakfast at the Sri Morarji Desai Model Residential School in Chamarajpet is said to be the cause. Soon after breakfast at about 8 am, the students from Class 6 to Class 10 started vomiting and complained of stomach ache.
Vani Vilas Hospital Medical Superintendent O S Siddappa said, "Of the 215 students, 45 were given Intra Venous (IV) fluids due to complaints of stomach ache and vomiting. Currently, only 22 students are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and in a stable condition. The rest were screened and given symptomatic treatment in the Out Patient Department (OPD)."
Meanwhile, a case of food poisoning was registered with the Chamarajpet police station and the food samples were sent for testing. Separately, even the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has also taken samples of the food from the hostel for testing. The results of both these tests are expected in the next 48 hours.
Who checks food quality?
Officials from the Social Welfare Department that runs the Sri Morarji Desai Residential Schools across the State said the department had conducted food quality check just 15 days back at the residential school in the City. However, Bangalore Taluk Officer K C Patil did not wish to comment any further on the food poisoning case.
The Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society that keeps tabs on the supply of quality food grains has said that the cooked food does not come under its purview.
“The warden of the hostel normally checks the supply of food materials, but there is no check on cooked food,” said the executive director for the institution, Chandrashekar.
BBMP version
Meanwhile, the BBMP in its inspection has found that the Morarji Desai Residential School’s upkeep of the kitchen, the storeroom and the rest of the dining facilities were ‘far from satisfactory’ and preliminary findings points towards food contamination.
The kitchen, storeroom and dinning area need to improve, said the Palike Health Officer, Dr Devaki, who inspected the school. While the changes to be made have been sent to the school, the principal of the institution has already agreed to the maintenance upgradation.
The BBMP has claimed that only 190 students being taken to the hospital and only four were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). “While none of the cases were of grave danger, the hospital has retained only 7 of the children for overnight observation,” said Dr Devaki.
