21 skill development trainees fall sick in Dumka ITI food poisoning scare
Pioneer News Service
Dumka
A gross violation of food safety standards at a government-backed residential training facility has left 21 youth hospitalized in Jharkhand’s Dumka district. The victims, enrolled in a skill development program under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Kaushal Kendra at the ITI College in Sapchala, Masalia, fell ill after consuming a contaminated meal on Saturday night. The establishment descended into panic when a student discovered a dead lizard in the vegetable dish, by which time several trainees had already eaten and begun vomiting.
Local villagers rushed to the campus upon hearing the commotion and assisted in rushing the affected students—mostly young women—to the Masalia Community Health Center via ambulances. Dr. Durgesh Kumar and Dr. Vikas Kumar administered emergency first aid, subsequently referring five students in critical condition to the Phulo Jhano Medical College and Hospital in Dumka for specialized care. A separate medical team camp was set up at the training center overnight to monitor the remaining students. According to health officials, timely medical intervention ensured that all victims are currently stable and out of danger.
The catering services for the 128 residential students are managed by a contractor, Basu Manjhi, hailing from Purulia in West Bengal. One of the cooks, Devdas Gorai, claimed that a sudden power outage forced them to prepare the dinner under mobile phone flashlights, which led to the oversight.
