Spurt in food poisoning cases in Dumka; 13 more schoolchildren fall ill

PNS

Dumka

Thirteen students of Holy Faith Residential School at Kurman in Jama block of Dumka district were taken ill on Monday in a suspected case of food poisoning, adding to a series of food contamination incidents reported across the district over the past two days.

The students were rushed to the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Jama after complaining of vomiting, abdominal pain and severe physical discomfort. Doctors attending to them suspected food poisoning and immediately began treatment.

According to hospital authorities, three students whose condition required close observation were admitted, while the remaining 10 were treated in the outpatient department and discharged after their condition stabilised. Medical teams led by Dr. Alok Kumar Singh administered Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) and other essential medicines.

The affected students told doctors they began feeling unwell late on Sunday night after consuming bottle gourd curry and rice served at the school’s residential hostel during dinner. Health officials are investigating the exact cause of the illness.

The incident comes barely a day after 21 trainees at the government-run Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Kaushal Kendra at Sapchala in Masalia block fell ill after allegedly consuming curry in which a dead lizard was found. Five female trainees had to be referred to Phulo Jhano Medical College and Hospital (PJMCH), following which the hostel warden and four staff members were suspended for alleged negligence.

In another recent incident, around a dozen schoolchildren from Khadukdama village in Shikaripara block were hospitalised after mistakenly consuming toxic seeds of a wild forest fruit, believing them to be cashews. Six of them were referred to PJMCH for advanced treatment.

The back-to-back health emergencies have put the district health administration on high alert. Officials have directed residential schools and institutional hostels to strictly maintain food quality, kitchen hygiene and safe drinking water standards to prevent further incidents. An investigation into the latest suspected food poisoning case is underway.