Over 100 students fall ill after consuming food at Garhwa KGBV
Nityanand Dubey
Garhwa
The incident of students falling ill at Kasturba Gandhi Residential Girls’ School in Kharaundhi block of Garhwa district intensified on Saturday, with eight more girls taken ill a day after over 100 students reportedly fell sick following the alleged consumption of contaminated food and water.
The affected students were rushed to the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Bhawnathpur, where they are undergoing treatment. Doctors said all the students are stable and out of danger.
The incident triggered widespread anger among parents and local residents, who gathered in large numbers outside the school. Protesters allegedly forced their way into the campus after breaking the main gate, accusing the school administration of gross negligence. Police later resorted to mild force to disperse the crowd and restore order.
Deputy Commissioner P. N. Mishra visited the school and conducted an on-the-spot inspection, during which he reportedly found serious irregularities in its functioning. He immediately relieved all school staff, except one employee, from their duties and ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident.
Preliminary findings suggest the students may have suffered food poisoning after consuming contaminated food and overheated drinking water from the school’s rooftop water tank. Food and water samples have been sent for laboratory analysis.
The Deputy Commissioner said negligence affecting children’s health would not be tolerated and assured strict action against those found responsible after the inquiry. He also appealed to residents to maintain peace and allow the administration to conduct a fair investigation.
