Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Thirty-eight schoolchildren from a government middle school in Singhana village of Sanwer’s Dharampur area reportedly complained of stomach pain, dizziness and headache after eating their mid-day meal on Saturday.
The children were served 'kadhi'-rice around 1.30 pm, after which several students reported feeling unwell.
The school management immediately informed the parents and arranged medical assistance. Some children were taken to Arbindo Hospital in Indore for examination, while 19 were admitted for observation.
They were kept under medical supervision for nearly seven hours and were discharged around 7 pm after doctors found their condition stable.
The incident initially raised concerns of food poisoning as several children developed symptoms around the same time.
However, the district administration later said that medical examinations did not reveal signs of food poisoning or any other illness in the children.
Following the information, collector Shivam Verma directed chief medical and health officer Dr Madhav Prasad Hasani to send a medical team to the village immediately.
The team examined the children and reported that all of them were normal and healthy. Officials said the medical examinations were carried out as a precautionary measure.
Dr Hasani said one girl had already been unwell and was undergoing treatment for the past three days.
After receiving information about the incident, the health department arranged precautionary medical examinations of all the children.
Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration team visited the school and collected samples of the prepared food and other necessary materials.
The samples have been sent for examination and officials said the exact reason behind the children’s complaints would be clear only after the test reports are received.
The administration is also examining where the meal was prepared, how it was transported to the school and whether quality checks were conducted before it was served.
Officials have clarified that no child is currently seriously ill and said the children’s health is being monitored as a precaution.
Administration’s statement
All children healthy: The district administration said medical examination found no signs of food poisoning or illness in any of the children.
Mid-day meal cost
Under the PM POSHAN scheme, the material cost for a mid-day meal is Rs 10.17 per child per day for Classes VI-VIII and Rs 6.78 for Classes I-V, effective from May 1, 2025. The cost covers ingredients and cooking fuel.
