Around 35 children fell ill after eating kheer served under the mid-day meal programme at Government Primary School Badi near Patlikul in the Manali subdivision on Tuesday. The children reportedly started vomiting soon after having the sweet dish and were taken for medical care.
The affected students are from nearby villages, including Jandi, Badi, Bashkola, Rankharu and Bajgadi. Family members said the children had eaten kheer at school before returning home. Around 4 pm, several children developed health problems after reaching home. Some students reportedly fainted soon after leaving the school.
On learning about the incident, panchayat president Kamal Kant and vice-president Lalit reached the area and helped take the children to the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Patlikul. Parents and relatives also rushed to the hospital after hearing that several children had fallen ill.
Dr Mohit Sharma, who is treating the children at CHC Patlikul, said the symptoms appeared to be linked to food poisoning. Doctors have also raised the possibility that contaminated water may have caused the illness. The exact reason, however, will be known only after a detailed investigation.
Naggar BMO Karan said the children were receiving treatment at CHC Patlikul. A team of doctors is monitoring their condition, while the health department is keeping track of their recovery.
Manali MLA Bhuvneshwar Gaur visited the hospital after being informed about the incident. He met the children and their anxious families and spoke to doctors about their condition.
Family members, including Ram Chand, Mukesh Kumar, Ishant, Devraj, Hira Lal, Mehar Chand and Sunil, expressed concern and sought a detailed probe. The incident has worried parents in the area, who are seeking clarity on the safety and quality of food served under the school mid-day meal programme.
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