At least 110 students of a private school in Indore fell ill after consuming lunch on Monday, prompting an inspection that revealed expired food items in the kitchen, officials said.
Incident Details
The students, aged between 6 and 14, complained of nausea, vomiting, and stomach ache shortly after eating the midday meal at the school located in the Banganga area. They were rushed to nearby hospitals, where their condition was reported to be stable.
Health department officials, who conducted an inspection, found 10 packets of spices and two packets of namkeen (savory snacks) that were past their expiry dates. “The expired items were seized, and a sample of the cooked food has been sent for laboratory analysis,” said Dr. R.S. Gupta, chief medical officer of Indore.
School Response
The school management claimed that the food was prepared under hygienic conditions and that the expired items might have been overlooked. “We are cooperating with the authorities and have suspended the cook pending inquiry,” said the school principal, who declined to be named.
Investigation Underway
The district administration has ordered a detailed inquiry into the incident. “We will take strict action against anyone found negligent,” said Indore Collector Ashish Singh. The food safety department has registered a case under the Food Safety and Standards Act.
Parents of the affected students staged a protest outside the school, demanding better food quality checks. “Our children could have died. The school must be held accountable,” said Ramesh Patel, father of a 10-year-old student.
