22 students fall ill after consuming mid-day meal in Parvatipuram Manyam district

VISAKHAPATNAM: As many as 22 students were taken ill and were hospitalised after consuming mid-day meal at Mandal Parishad School in Kona village of Makkuva mandal in Parvatipuram Manyam district on Tuesday. Around 144 students ate the meal at the school. Medical officials said that six students complained of vomiting and stomach ache.

On being informed, collector Nihant Kumar immediately sent a team of tashildar and three medical officers led by District Medical and Health Officer Dr B Jaggannadha Rao to take stock of the situation as the students were rushed to the hospital by five ambulances.

“I have personally spoken to the doctors who attended to the children. No serious issue was reported. This probably happened due to food poisoning. All the children are stable after being treated at the hospital. Health staff is taking care of every sick student,’’ the collector said.

An investigation under the supervision of DMHO and DEO in-charge Brahmaji Rao is being conducted, he said.

A similar incident was reported on Tuesday at Kothavalasa BC Hostel for Girls in Vizianagaram district where 12 girl students fell ill after consuming breakfast.