Post News Network
Bargarh, Jan 27: As many as 45 people, including 40 children, fell ill after they ate stale sweets distributed during Republic Day function in Bileigarh primary school under Ambabhona block in this district Monday.
They were admitted to Bhukta primary health centre and later shifted to district headquarters hospital. Sixteen persons were discharged Monday and 26 others Tuesday. However, the condition of three children, Kamal Seth, Dipti Prasad Bhoi and Hemant Bariha, all in the age group of two to three years, is still critical. Collector Anjan Kumar Manik, sub-collector Bijay Kumar Khandayat Ray, Bhatli MLA Sushant Singh, Bargarh MP Pravas Singh, and MLA Debesh Acharya visited the district headquarters hospital and took stock of the situation. Textiles minister Snehangini Chhuria also visited the hospital and interacted with the parents of the kids.
Additional district medical officer (Public Health) Chulabati Sahu went to the village Monday and collected the samples of sweets distributed among the students. She also interacted with the villagers on the issue. Meanwhile, the district health wing has sent the samples to the public health laboratory at Bhubaneswar for examination, said Sahu. As per preliminary report, stale food was the reason behind the incident, she added.
When contacted, chief district medical officer Prakash Pradhan said all the patients were provided proper treatment. “Forty two affected persons were discharged after they recovered. Three children are under treatment and their condition, though critical, is improving,” Pradhan said.
Ambabhona police station officer-in-charge Pascal Ekka, who is investigating the matter, said action would be taken against the people responsible for the incident after probe. Reports said the children of Bileigarh primary school and the Anganwadi centre observed Republic Day together. Bundi (a kind of sweet) prepared January 23 was distributed among the children. However, ‘prasad’ made of wheat on Saraswati Puja January 24 was mixed with the Bundi, sources said. After consuming it, the children went home. However, on the way they vomited and also had loose motion. The parents, who consumed the left-over Bundi from the children, also fell sick, the sources added.