• Source:JND
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Over 20 students fell ill after eating a mid-day meal at a primary school in Bihar’s Araria district on Wednesday. The school children began experiencing severe health issues after consuming the food at their school, which is located in Godhi Tola. The children, who are from the same ward six of Kismat Khawaspur Panchayat in Araria block, reported symptoms of headache, stomach ache and vomiting after their meal of Khichdi Chokha.

The situation escalated quickly, with parents reporting that their children started to feel unwell around 4 pm on Wednesday. By 7 pm, the number of affected children had risen significantly, prompting local authorities to take immediate action. 

Lok Sabha MP from Araria, Pradeep Kumar Singh and Sub Division Officer (SDO) Araria were informed, leading to the dispatch of three ambulances to transport the sick children to Sadar Hospital for urgent medical care.

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Dr Vidhanchandra Singh stated that the children were being treated based on their symptoms, and no vomiting incidents had occurred at the hospital. A team of half a dozen doctors and 35 health workers were dedicated to the children’s care, ensuring constant observation.

The school headmaster, Abhinandan Rishidev, provided a puzzling response when questioned about the incident. He noted that out of 437 enrolled students, 227 had eaten the same meal, yet only a specific group fell ill. He also mentioned a recent feast in the village, suggesting a possible connection but refrained from drawing conclusions.

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Dr Shakib Ahmed, a paediatrician at the hospital, indicated that such health outbreaks could sometimes be attributed to staph aureus infections. Meanwhile, the treatment continued at Sadar Hospital, with the Chief Surgeon and other officials, including MP Pradeep Kumar Singh and SDPO Rampukar Singh, present to oversee the situation.

The incident caused widespread alarm among parents and the community, as the health of the children remains a top priority. An investigation to ascertain the cause of the illness is underway.