Food Poisoning Outbreak in Thane School Hospitalizes Over 100 Students

More than 100 students from a tribal residential school in Thane, Maharashtra, were hospitalized after consuming their mid-day meal, with symptoms resembling food poisoning. The incident occurred at the Sant Gadge Maharaj Primary and Secondary Ashram School in Bhatsai, Shahapur taluka. The affected students, including 63 girls, experienced vomiting and other symptoms after eating food pulao and gulab jamun. Samples of the served food have been collected for laboratory examination.

In a concerning incident, 109 students, including 63 girls, from a private ashram school in Thane district, Maharashtra, were rushed to a government hospital after exhibiting symptoms of food poisoning. The incident occurred on Wednesday, January 31, following the consumption of the mid-day meal provided at the school.

School Details and Location

The Sant Gadge Maharaj Primary and Secondary Ashram School, where the incident took place, is a residential school located in Bhatsai, Shahapur taluka, on the outskirts of Mumbai. The school caters to tribal children and houses approximately 200 students from Classes 1 to 10.

Symptoms and Hospitalization

According to Shahpur tehsildar Komal Thakur, the students experienced vomiting and other symptoms of food poisoning after consuming the mid-day meal, which consisted of food pulao and a sweet dish called gulab jamun. Out of the 109 affected students, 63 were girls and 46 were boys. All but four of the students were discharged from the Sub-Division Hospital in Shahapur after receiving treatment.

Official Response and Investigation

Senior officials visited the hospital to inquire about the students' condition, while families and relatives of the affected pupils gathered outside the medical facility. To maintain order, police personnel were deployed at the hospital. Samples of the food items served to the children were collected and sent for laboratory examination to determine the cause of the food poisoning.

Food Source Investigation

The origin of the pulao and gulab jamun served during the mid-day meal has not been officially confirmed. However, some students claimed that the food items were brought in from external sources. The local police have initiated an investigation into the incident to ascertain the exact source of the food and determine any potential negligence or violations.

The food poisoning incident involving 109 students in Thane district highlights the importance of ensuring the safety and quality of food provided in schools. Thorough investigations are necessary to identify the root cause of the problem and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future, safeguarding the well-being of students and maintaining their trust in the school's food services.