GV Raja Sports School students hit by food poison

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Around 71 hostel inmates of G.V. Raja Sports School, Mailom were hospitalised due to food poisoning, reportedly caused by Friday night supper served here. The Food Safety (FS) commissioner ordered that the hostel be shutdown and the Director of Public Instruction (DPI) declared a holiday for the school till Wednesday. None of the students are serious.

The children aged between the age group of 13 and 17 years developed vomiting sensation, stomach ache and loose motion after consuming tapioca and fish curry. They were hospitalised between Friday midnight and Saturday afternoon. Around 27 students have been admitted to Medical College Hospital and SAT hospital. FS officials said that the contractor who served food at the canteen was earlier given notice for lack of cleanliness.

“Even during the raid after incident we observed that the kitchen was unclean and we shut it down. Food samples were seized, but it was too late in the morning as the food was spoilt anyway,” said food safety commissioner G.R. Gokul. “All children are out of danger. The children are giving various versions about the food they consumed including beef and fish. We have sent their stool samples to laboratory and will be able to confirm the type of poisoning,” Medical College Hospital said in a statement. GV Raja principal Pradeep C.S. said that children go out and eat food and the school has started an inquiry to find how the incident happened.