Mathura: Two children died and 46 others hospitalised after consuming milk which was given as part of the midday meal at a school in Kansi Ram colony of Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, police said.
The deceased have been identified as five-year-old Essan and four-year-old Kirti.
The children complained of diarrhoea on Wednesday after they consumed milk at a junior DIET school, Assistant SP Kunvar Anupam Singh said, adding samples of the milk and water have been taken for testing.
The exact cause of food poisoning is being ascertained, District Magistrate Rajesh Kumar said.
While 22 children were admitted in the District Hospital, 19 were admitted in Swarn Jayanti Hospital.
Besides, four other children and the mother of two were admitted to a multi-speciality hospital in a serious condition.
Thirty-five-year-old Nazma, mother of Sanya and Besma, was taken ill after consuming the milk brought home by her children, Dr Sajjan Kumar, Chief Medical officer, said.
The incident happened last evening when children studying in the DIET (District Institute of Education and Training) campus-based Primary School and Junior High School complained of diarrhoea after they were given milk as midday meal.
Administration swung into action after they were informed about the death of two children during the night and the condition of others worsened.
“We came to know about food poisoning only at 9am on Thursday. Teams of doctors were rushed to area, and every precaution was taken,” assistant district magistrate for administration A. K. Awasthi said.
“Two teams of doctors have been stationed at Kanshi Ram colony,” the CMO said, adding one team is providing door-to-door pre-treatment.
As a precautionary measure, use of water from the overhead tank of Kanshi Ram Colony has been banned and for the time being, water is being supplied in the colony by tankers.
