22 children die after eating school lunch


Recommended Posts

PATNA, India (AP) ? At least 22 children died and more than two dozen others were sick after eating a free school lunch that was tainted with insecticide, Indian officials said Wednesday.

It was not immediately clear how chemicals ended up in the food in a school in the eastern state of Bihar. One official said the food may not have been properly washed before it was cooked.

The children, between the ages of 5 and 12, fell ill Tuesday soon after eating lunch in Gandamal village in Masrakh block, 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of the state capital of Patna. School authorities immediately stopped serving the meal of rice, lentils, soybeans and potatoes as the children started vomiting.

The lunch, part of a popular national campaign to give at least one daily hot meal to children from poor families, was cooked in the school kitchen.

The children were rushed to a local hospital and later to Patna for treatment, said state official Abhijit Sinha.

Authorities suspended an official in charge of the free meal scheme in the school and registered a case of criminal negligence against the school headmaster, who fled as soon as the children fell ill.

more

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow! That is just totally sad. :(

 

Headmaster fled as soon as the children fell ill? Why? Had to have known something then, or at least, makes it look very suspicious.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow! That is just totally sad. :(

 

Headmaster fled as soon as the children fell ill? Why? Had to have known something then, or at least, makes it look very suspicious.

maybe he feared parents rage ? that they would kill him

 

anyhow by running away he made himself more guilty 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/23/world/asia/india-deadly-lunch/index.html?c=world

Officers hunt down principal after poisoning

Patna, India (CNN) - A week after an Indian school served toxic food to students, leaving 23 dead, its headmistress remains missing along with her husband, police said Tuesday.

A nine-member team of officers has been formed to investigate and track down the principal, Meena Kumari, police superintendent Sujeet Kumar said.

Police presence is heavy in the village in Bihar state, especially around the principal's home.

Authorities have recorded statements from 40 witnesses, including child survivors of the July 16 food poisoning, Kumar said.

Residents went on a rampage a day after the toxic meals were served in the local government school, torching at least four police cars.

In acts of protest, parents of at least three children have buried their kids near the school -- one right in front of the building, according to officials.

Police will ensure the headmistress' safety when she resurfaces or is taken into custody for questioning, authorities said.

Pesticides have been found in the food and oil used in the school lunch that sickened 25 others on July 16 in northern India's Bihar state, police said.

Forensic scientists found monocrotophos, an organophosphorus compound used as an insecticide, "in the samples of oil from the container, food remains on the platter and mixture of rice with vegetables in an aluminum utensil," Assistant Director General Ravinder Kumar told reporters in Patna.

Monocrotophos, which is used for agricultural purposes, is toxic to humans.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is this India's answer to eradicating poverty?

Not funny man, not funny.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not funny man, not funny.

Wasn't meant as a joke - more as an indictment of the poor living conditions of the vast majority of Indians - though, admittedly, it does sound a lot colder than intended.

It is a terrible tragedy. I hope that India, as it slowly becomes a major economy, makes the education for all and the eradication of poverty its top priorities.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wasn't meant as a joke - more as an indictment of the poor living conditions of the vast majority of Indians - though, admittedly, it does sound a lot colder than intended.

It is a terrible tragedy. I hope that India, as it slowly becomes a major economy, makes the education for all and the eradication of poverty its top priorities.

The sad incident happened in Bihar, one of the most backward and poor states of India. Politicians and leaders of Bihar are known for their corruption, so its easy to guess that they ate all the money which was issued for healthy food.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This topic is now closed to further replies.