Reshma Ravishanker

Yet another child has died on Monday night at Malavalli in Karnataka’s Mandya district where children took ill after consuming food served at a school.

One 13-year-old student from Meghalaya has died of a severe case of food poisoning on March 16. On Monday night, another 17-year-old died at a hospital in Mandya where he was undergoing treatment.

At Least 40 students of Gokula Vidyasamsthe at T Kagepura village are undergoing treatment at a government hospital in Mandya of which 25 hail from Meghalaya according to officials of the department of school education and literacy.

Students started falling ill on March 16 after consuming food that was distributed during lunch on the day of Holi. According to officials, the school permitted distribution of leftover food which was ordered by a businessman Pushpendra Kumar in the area for a private event which led to the incident.

As many as 120 students are suffering from food poisoning. The incident came to light on March 17. The superintendent of Police Mallikarjuna Baladandi, who visited the spot, examined CCTV camera footage.

Umadevi, Block Education Officer, Malavalli told EducationWorld that a report on the incident has been sought from the school. “Last night, one more student’s condition turned critical and died. Parents are reporting that stale food was served to children which has caused food poisoning. We have sought details on the same. Most of these children hail from Meghalaya and have been studying here. It is a day school. Some of their parents have yet to arrive from the state. Hence, the department is coordinating for their care,” she said.

Also read: Managing food allergies in children