Tragic Death of Student Highlights Food Safety Concerns at Odisha School

In a heartbreaking incident in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, a Class 5 student tragically lost her life after consuming what is believed to be contaminated food at a state-run residential school. This unfortunate event has also left over 100 other students falling ill, raising serious questions about food safety standards in educational institutions.

The incident occurred at the Kakabandha Ashram School, located in the Rasgovindpur block, where students began to report symptoms of food poisoning shortly after their meal on Tuesday. The meal in question included fermented rice, commonly known as ‘pakhala,’ mashed potatoes, and mango chutney—items which, according to officials, were not part of the approved menu for the day.

Following the alarming reports of illness, more than 100 students required medical attention, with 67 of them being transferred to a hospital in Baripada due to the severity of their conditions. Among those hospitalized was Rupali Besra, who was admitted to the intensive care unit but sadly succumbed to her illness the following day. Mayurbhanj District Collector Hema Kanta Say confirmed the tragic news and indicated that police action was being initiated based on a complaint lodged by Rupali’s mother.

In light of the incident, the headteacher of the school, Jayant Kumar Panigrahi, has been suspended due to negligence in ensuring the safety and well-being of the students. The local administration has also taken swift action, with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressing his profound sorrow over the incident and announcing a compensation of Rs 3 lakh to Rupali’s family. Additionally, Karanjia Sub Collector Dayasindhu Parida has stated that the government will provide a further Rs 7 lakh ex-gratia payment to support the bereaved family.

The incident has sparked outrage among the local community, leading to clashes between residents and police as families demand accountability and better food safety practices in schools. This tragedy underscores the urgent need for stringent food safety regulations in government-run institutions to prevent such heartbreaking incidents from occurring in the future.

Source: scroll.in