Maharashtra: 109 students fall ill at school in Thane district; food poisoning suspected

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As many as 109 students of a private ashram school in Thane district of Maharashtra reportedly fell ill on Wednesday, the officials said; adding that food poisoning was suspected among the students, reported the PTI.

The officials said, 109 students, including 63 girls, were rushed to a government hospital in Thane district after showing symptoms of food poisoning on Wednesday, as per the PTI.

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According to the news agency, the ashram school (residential schools for tribal children) is located at Bhatsai in Shahapur taluka on the outskirts of Mumbai.
Shahpur tehsildar Komal Thakur told PTI that barring four students, all were discharged from the hospital after treatment.

In the morning, students were served food brought from outside, including a sweet dish. After consuming the food, 109 students -- 63 girls and 46 boys -- complained of vomiting, nausea and giddiness, and they were immediately rushed to a government hospital, she said.

Samples of food items served to the children were collected and sent for laboratory examination, said Komal Thakur, as per the PTI.

The local police were carrying out a probe into the incident, she added.

Meanwhile, in an another incident, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has seized banned gutka and tobacco products valued at Rs 12.45 lakh in Thane district of Maharashtra and arrested one person in this connection, an official said on Wednesday, reported the PTI.

According to the PTI, a team of the FDA along with police raised a premises near a hotel in Bhiwandi area on Tuesday and seized the banned products, the official from Shanti Nagar police station said.

A 34-year-old driver of a tempo parked near the premises was apprehended in this connection.

The police have registered a case under Indian Penal Code sections 328 (causing hurt by means of poison), 273 (sale of noxious food or drink), 272 (adulteration of food or drink intended for sale), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant), and 179 (refusing to answer public servant authorized to question) and the FDA regulations, the official said, as per the PTI.

Efforts were on to nab four other persons for the involvement in the offence, he said.

The sale and consumption of gutka, scented and flavoured tobacco has been banned in Maharashtra since 2012.

(with PTI inputs)