Kochi: A railway vegetarian restaurant at Ernakulam North railway station was closed after 16 students who represent the state Under-15 football team got food-poisoning after they bought food parcels from the outlet. The incident occurred at 8 pm on Saturday when the U-15 players reached the station to travel to Kozhikode. “The students bought parcels from the restaurant and boarded the Kochuveli-Bikaner Express. They were going to Kozhikode after a match in Ernakulam. They ate their food and began to complain of a vomiting sensation when the train left Shornur. Nine students were admitted to Pattambi Taluk hospital and another seven to Nila hospital. They were all discharged by Sunday noon when their condition improved,” a senior railway health inspector said.
The railways acted quickly and sealed the vegetarian restaurant at Ernakulam North. “We have collected samples of chappatis, idlis and sambhar and sent them for testing at the laboratory. The result will take a week. Further legal action will be taken on the basis of the test results,” the officer said. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is in the process of setting up its own ‘Base Kitchens ’ in major stations, including Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram, to ensure supply of good quality food at stations and in trains.
