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40 children fall ill after eating midday meal in Khandwa school

More than 40 children in Khandwa fell sick after eating kheer, puri, and halwa at school on Republic Day. Many suffered vomiting and diarrhea, overwhelming the hospital. With beds running out, treatment was given on the floor.

By Ground Report Desk
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40 children fall ill after eating midday meal in Khandwa school

So many children fell ill at the same time that there was not enough bed space in the hospital. Beds had to be placed on the floor. Photograph: (X)

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In a shocking incident, over 40 children fell ill after consuming kheer-puri and halwa served at their school during a Republic Day celebration in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh. The children experienced symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea and were rushed to the local community health centre. Due to a shortage of beds, many had to be treated on the hospital floor. Doctors confirmed the children suffered from food poisoning.

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What happened?

The incident occurred in Kasrawad village, Harsud area of Khandwa. On Sunday morning, the school organised a Republic Day flag-hoisting ceremony and a meal for primary, middle, and Anganwadi children. The menu included vegetable puri, kheer (sweet rice pudding), and halwa (sweet dish). A self-help group responsible for the midday meal program prepared and distributed the food.

Around 6 pm, the children started falling ill one by one, complaining of severe vomiting and diarrhoea. Panicked parents and villagers rushed them to the Harsud community health centre.

The sudden influx of sick children overwhelmed the hospital. Initially, 15 children were discharged after primary treatment, but as more cases poured in, the hospital ran out of beds. The medical staff had to lay beds on the floor to accommodate the patients.

Currently, 25 children are still hospitalised, while the rest have been discharged. Doctors ensure that none are in critical condition, and their health is stable.

Doctors suspect food poisoning

Senior doctor Ashish Raj Mishra from Harsud Hospital stated, "All the children showed symptoms of food poisoning, likely caused by contaminated food. However, the exact cause is still under investigation."

Sarpanch Sanjay Patel raised concerns, saying, "While staff and public representatives also ate the same meal, only the children who consumed the curry fell ill. This raises suspicions of possible adulteration or contamination in the milk used for the kheer."

Panchayat secretary Amardas Rajput commented, "The meal was organised as part of the Republic Day celebrations and was prepared by a self-help group. We deeply regret the incident and assure a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the food poisoning."

The incident raised serious questions about the quality and safety of food served under the midday meal program. Authorities are expected to investigate further, including testing the meal’s ingredients, especially the milk.

The focus remains on ensuring the complete recovery of the affected children. The hospital staff is working around the clock to provide necessary care, and parents should monitor their children for any further symptoms.

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