64 students fall sick after consuming mid-day meal in UP

Around 64 students fell sick due to food poisoning after consuming mid-day meal at a government primary school at Juggaur in Chinhat area in Lucknow on Wednesday, officials said.

This is the second incident of students falling ill after eating mid-day meal in the state capital in the last over one month time.

Students of the government primary school started feeling uneasy and complained of stomach ache after having mid-day meal on Wednesday, an official source said.

Ambulances were rushed to the school and 64 students were sent to the RamManoharLohiaHospital in Lucknow, District Magistrate Rajshekhar said.

"Doctors have examined most of them and only three students are admitted to the hospital and the rest were given required medication. All were stated to be out of danger and will be discharged soon," he said.

Food samples have being collected from the school campus and the food safety department has been asked to collect the sample from Akshay Patra, the NGO involved in supply of mid-day meal, for lab testing, Rajshekhar said.

"It is a matter of serious concern as this is the second case in recent days. We are ensuring the best possible treatment to the students and make sure that inquiry is done properly and action is taken accordingly in this case," the DM said.

Earlier on July 29 over 50 students of a government primary school at Arya Nagar locality fell ill after consuming milk provided under mid-day meal scheme, prompting the district administration to order an inquiry into the matter.