30 students taken ill after consuming mid-day meal

New Delhi: Three days after a dead lizard was found in a mid-day meal at a government school, 30 girl students fell ill after consuming mid-day meal at another government school in Delhi’s Narela area on Wednesday.

“About 30 students were taken ill due to food poisoning after consuming mid-day meal. They were taken to Satyawadi Raja Harish Chandra Hospital,” a senior police official said.

This also comes a day after deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia did a surprise inspection at two mid-day meal kitchens. The students of Senior Secondary School in Narela’s Bankner complained of abdominal pain after consuming their mid-day meal.

According to hospital authorities, some of the students have been discharged. The rest are likely to be discharged later in the day.

Following the development, the Delhi government’s education department has called a meeting of all mid-day suppliers in the national capital on Thursday.

This is second such incident within a week. Two girls were taken ill after having mid-day meal on Saturday at a Delhi government school in East Delhi’s Khichdipur in which a dead lizard was allegedly found.

Mr Sisodia had on Monday conducted surprise inspection in two kitchens in the city where the meals were being prepared for distribution in schools and warned the workers of strict action if any irregularities were found in future.

“The education director has called a meeting of all mid-day meal suppliers tomorrow. I have directed that there should be regular monitoring of the kitchens where meals are prepared. If any of them is found not meeting the required standards, their contract will be cancelled,” Mr Sisodia said. told reporters.

Social welfare minister Rajendra Pal Gautam also visited the hospital where the girls were admitted on Wednesday.

D13