Bangalore, Sep 19: Nearly 350 students of a government school in Bangalore were admitted to a hospital on Friday due to food poisoning after having their mid-day meals.
The children of the DJ Halli Urdu Government School complained of nausea and vomiting soon after they had their lunch allegedly supplied by International Society for Promotion of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).
Zameer Ahmed, a teacher at the school said, "We got the food from Iskcon centre. We began serving students from Class I to VII. Then one of our teachers saw a lizard in the box. There was panic and we rushed to the hospital."
"We do plan to question the authorities on how they can serve food like this," he said.
Iskcon, however, has denied that the food was provided by them. "We would like to bring to your notice that the reported news is incorrect and defamatory as Iskcon Food Relief Foundation has no kitchen in Bangalore and therefore does not serve food in Bangalore," a statement issued by a senior executive at Iskcon said.
The Iskcon official said in his statement that it is another NGO, Akshaya Patra, which is operational in the area.
Dr Shivakumar of the Ambedkar Hospital said, "About 350 students came in here. They complained of abdominal pain and vomiting. We gave them the treatment. Now around 70 are still here of which 20 are under observation."
Dr Shivakumar said the sample of the food has been sent to the forensic lab. The report is awaited.
Senior police officials said they are investigating the incident. Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Alok Kumar said, "The condition of the children is stable. After spotting the lizard, the children began to complain of abdominal pain and vomiting."
œAround 350 students have fallen ill and have been admitted to Ambedkar Hospital. Most of them have returned home after getting the treatment, Health Minister U T Khader told reporters here.
œWhen we came here many children had gone home after getting the treatment. No one should panic and create confusion ¦ we have to clear confusion and fear among parents and children, he said.
œ ¦ We will discuss this with the department concerned, investigate the matter and take action ¦, he said. Transport Minister Ramlinga Reddy, who visited the hospital, said 350 children took ill but they were now œalright and will be discharged soon .
Anxious parents rushed to the hospital, making it tough for the police to control them. The children were brought to the hospital around 3.30 pm with complaints of vomiting sensation, Anjaneya, Manager, Ananda Social and Educational Trust which runs the hospital, said.
He said doctors were told that a lizard was found in the food served to the children. According to him the children were brought to the hospital and about 30 had already been discharged. œOthers are undergoing treatment. There is no serious case.
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