Bhubaneswar, 14 April (H.S.) : A student died and more than 120 others were hospitalised following a suspected food poisoning incident at a residential school in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district on Tuesday.

The incident took place at Kakabandh Ashram School under Rasgovindpur block. According to initial reports, students had consumed pakhala and potato chutney in the morning. Shortly after the meal, several children began experiencing symptoms including vomiting, diarrhoea, and fever.

As the condition of the students worsened, they were rushed to Rasgovindpur Hospital. Officials said that over 120 students have been admitted for treatment so far.

The school accommodates more than 220 students from Classes I to VIII. A large number of students reportedly fell ill within a short period after consuming the mid-day meal, raising serious concerns about food safety and hygiene standards at the institution.

Medical teams are currently monitoring the condition of the affected children, while treatment is underway at the hospital. The exact cause of the illness has not yet been officially confirmed, though preliminary findings suggest the possibility of contaminated food.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda