Shillong, March 17: A 14- year-old student of Class VII from Pynursla died and twenty four others from the state fell ill following a food poisoning incident in Mandya, Karnataka, police said.
The deceased has been identified as Khrehlang Khongtani from Lyndem, Pynursla, East Khasi Hills.
Police said one of the students from the state is in a critical condition.
The incident was after the students from the illegally-run hostel of the school were served with leftover food.
Though the school run by a nine-member trust headed by a local person is legal, the trust did not get any permission to set up the hostel, police said adding that many inmates are orphans.
Three persons- a hotel proprietor Siddaraju, secretary/headmaster of the school Lankesh and hostel in-charge Abhishek- were arrested.
Mandya Superintendent of Police Mallikarjun said on phone on Monday that the students were studying at the unaided Gokula Vidyasamsthe in T. Kagepur, Malavalli Taluk under the supervision of its secretary Lankesh of Maddur Taluk Lakshmigowdanadoddy village and the president Jagadish.
The Meghalaya students were staying at the hostel and as many as 202 children from class 1 to 8 are studying at the school.
On March 16, around 9 am, police received the information that the students were suffering from vomiting due to food poisoning and were being treated at Malavalli Government Hospital.
Police officials visited the hospital following the incident.
According to the police, on March 14, on the occasion of Holi festival, the son of owner of Malavalli Town Madan Jewellery Shop Puspendra Kumar asked Siddaraju, the owner of Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy hotel to make rice and chatni in connection with the Holi festival. Puspendra celebrated Holi with his community members and ate rice and chatni and the remaining rice was given to the students by Madan Kalyan Mantap manager Krishna through headmaster Lankesh and Abhishek who was taking care of the children that day.
On March 14, a few students fell ill and medicines were given but on March 15 by noon, many children vomitted besides diarrhea, nausea and headache were reported. The headmaster brought six students to the Malavalli government hospital for treatment.
Later on March 16, the student from Pynursla collapsed and the doctor declared him as brought dead.
The Karnataka health department officials visited the hostel and shifted 30 students.
Police took statements from four students identified as Kittooran, Bianglang, Vicky and Gaganagowda.
Though students can attend classes, the Meghalaya students are not allowed to stay at the hostel.
DGP I Nongrang said on Monday that 24 state students fell ill and the body of Khongtani was handed over to the family.
A senior education department official said a team will leave for Karnataka either on Monday or Tuesday to assist the students.
The department has deputed P. Sunn, Sub Inspector of Schools, Sub Divisional School Education Officer, Shillong and . R. Kharsyntiew, District MIS, PM – POSHAN, Shillong to coordinate with the concerned district administration in Karnataka
and also with the parents of the all the children from Meghalaya.
They will also submit a detailed report on the incident subsequently.
The state health department is also seeking information on the matter.
