150 kids ill after eating tainted flattened rice in Odisha's Malkangiri district

Malkangiri: More than 150 girl students of Badapada Kanyashram in Chitrakonda block of Odisha’s Malkangiri district on Friday fell ill after consuming flattened rice that allegedly got contaminated after coming in contact with phenyl during the time of transportation.

According to the Malkangiri district welfare officer (DWO) Ramakrushna Gonda, the students complained of vomiting and loose motion after eating the flattened rice. They were immediately taken to Chitrakonda via boat and hospitalised.

“Soon after the students complained of uneasiness, they were rushed to the hospital and their condition is now stable,” the DWO Mr Panda said.

He said the flattened rice was brought to the school in a vehicle that was also carrying phenyl. “Badapada Kanyashrama is located in the areas that lie across the Chitrakonda reservoir. Normally, we transport food items along with other school articles in a four-wheeler and bring them up to the shore of the Chitrakonda reservoir where all the goods are loaded on to the motorboat to be ferried to remote areas.”

He added: “At this moment we cannot verify if the flattened rice got contaminated after it came into contact with the phenyl. Local tahsildar visited the school along with a scientific team on Friday. He has collected samples of the flattened rice and sent them to the district laboratory for examination.”

He added that the exact reason of the students falling sick could be known only after the examination report was available.