Thorough investigation launched into food contamination incidents ZPHS Maganoor: Official

Director, School Education, E. Venkata Narasimha Reddy said a thorough investigation has been launched into the incidents of food contamination that led to several students falling sick at Maganoor Zilla Parishad High School during the week.

Mr. Reddy, along with Narayanpet District Collector Sikta Patnaik and Superintendent of Police Yogesh Gautam, inspected the school on Wednesday (November 27, 2024), and later spoke to the media.

Samples sent for testing

According to Mr. Reddy, everything in the school, including storeroom, rice stock, and kitchen facilities were inspected, and water samples too were collected and sent for testing. A food committee had been formed with teachers and students, and there would be daily inspection in the school. He said the Mandal Special Officer, MPDO and Tahsildar would inspect the midday meal quality at the field level. And necessary steps would be taken to implement the supervision of the teachers and food committees set up in all other schools in the State too.

A complete inquiry report on the incidents would be submitted to the government soon.

To build confidence among the children, Mr. Reddy, Ms. Patnaik and Mr. Gautam, and other officials, joined the children for the mid-day meal at the school.

‘Other reasons’

Ms. Patnaik said the quality of eggs brought from outside was suspected to be one of the reasons. The eggs and food items sold in stalls outside the school were sent for tests. She said psychological aspects were also being investigated, as to why only a few children of the 400 who consumed the meals fell ill.

Published - November 28, 2024 01:19 pm IST