Bhubaneswar: A day after a Class 5 student of a govt-run residential school in Mayurbhanj district’s Rasgovindpur died of suspected food poisoning, revenue divisional commissioner (RDC) Sudhanshu Samal began an inquiry on Wednesday. As many as 148 students, including deceased Rupali Besra (12), complained of diarrhoea and vomiting after allegedly consuming stale ‘pakhala’ (fermented rice), ‘saga bhaja’ (fried greens) and ‘aloo bharta’ (mashed potato) at the school hostel on Sunday. The food was allegedly cooked for Saturday’s lunch.On the day, Samal visited Rasgovindpur Community Health Centre and Pandit Raghunath Murmu (PRM) Medical College and Hospital, Baripada, where he interacted with the affected students and their families.While close to 60 students are still undergoing treatment at the PRM hospital, one Laxmipriya Besra, a resident of Nalgaja under Rasgovindpur block, has been shifted to Sishu Bhawan in Cuttack, said additional district medical officer Dr Shashikant Sethi. Another student is still in the ICU but is reportedly improving.Health officials said at least 12 students have been discharged.Samal also inspected the school premises, including the kitchen, and checked its food quality and drinking water arrangements.Later, a high-level review meeting was held with collector Hemakanta Say, superintendent of police Varun Guntupalli and other senior officials.The RDC said that all aspects of the incident are being thoroughly examined. “Strict action will be taken against those found responsible. The situation is currently under control and preventive measures are being put in place to avoid a recurrence,” he said.A medical team from SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, has also arrived to investigate the causes behind the diarrhoea and vomiting among students.Meanwhile, the last rites of the deceased child were conducted early on Wednesday at her native Nunchati village in Rasgovindpur block, after an angry mob prevented the hearse from entering the place throughout Tuesday night.Family members of the deceased alleged they were not allowed to step out of the vehicle as the mob blocked the road and pelted police with stones, in the name of seeking justice for their daughter. “The hearse vehicle was also damaged. We urged them to let us go, but they did not listen,” alleged the victim’s mother, Sibani Besra.The police later resorted to a lathicharge, but the mob dispersed only in the morning, allowing the vehicle to finally reach Besra’s home.
