Parents Seek Probe After Children Fall Ill Following School Meal In Kullu

After consuming kheer as part of the midday meal on Tuesday, around 38 students at a primary school in a village in the Manali subdivision of Kullu district fell ill. Several students were taken to the Community Health Centre (CHC) at Patlikuhal for treatment.

The children's families said that after the school in Bari village closed at around 4 pm, the students started feeling unwell after returning home. Some children were allegedly found in a semi-conscious state outside the school.

Panchayat representatives reached the school after learning about the incident and helped transfer the children to the government hospital in the nearby town of Patlikuhal. Their families also rushed to the hospital after learning that several children had fallen ill.

Food Poisoning Suspected

While experts have considered contaminated water as a possible cause, a doctor at CHC Patlikuhal said that the cases appeared to be food poisoning. According to an official, poor-quality milk and rice could also be a possible cause, but the exact reason will be known only after further investigation.

The official also said that a team of medical professionals was monitoring the children's health while they were receiving treatment at the hospital.

MLA Visits Hospital As Parents Seek Probe

Manali MLA Bhuvneshwar Gaur also visited the hospital, spoke to the children and their families, and took stock of their treatment.

According to reports, concerned parents demanded a thorough investigation into the cause of the illness. They also urged the administration to collect samples of the food served during the midday meal, as well as the water and milk used at the school, for testing.

Gaur said that the incident would be investigated and that action would be taken against those responsible.