At least 26 children fell ill on Wednesday, 17 January, after consuming biryani at Bhiwandi's Diwan Shah madrassa in Thane district, Maharashtra. Five children, who were in critical condition, were referred to Mumbai hospital for further treatment. The students showed signs of food poisoning.
The students, all boys aged around 12 to 15, complained of vomiting, nausea, stomach ache and giddiness on 17 January, following which they were rushed to the government-run IGM hospital in Bhiwandi.
Later, as the health of some of the children started deteriorating, all of them were shifted to the Nair Hospital in Mumbai. Gaikwad visited the children at the hospital on Wednesday night, and said they all were out of danger.
An investigation was on into the incident, he added.
Past Instances
In a similar incident reported by the Hindustan Times in March 2016, 45 children fell sick due to suspected food poisoning in Bihar’s Puria district. The incident took place at Jamia Milia Bada madrassa at Dagarua Bazar. Students reported symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea soon after having dinner at the residential school.
In 2013, 21 students of a madrassa in Naliya village of Abdasa tehsil in the district suffered food poisoning after the students were given rice and vegetable curry, prepared the previous night as pre-dawn breakfast before the day’s Ramadan fast. Soon, many of them complained of nausea and vomiting, reported Zee News, quoting PTI.
(With inputs from PTI, Zee News and Hindustan Times)
(We Indians have much to talk about these days. But what would you tell India if you had the chance? Pick up the phone and write or record your Letter To India. Don’t be silent, tell her how you feel. Mail us your letter at lettertoindia@thequint.com. We’ll make sure India gets your message.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)