'Dead Lizard in Utensil': Forty students hospitalised after food poisoning at Thane school, second incidence in a month

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

food poisoning. The students had consumed the midday meal served at the school before they started complaining of nausea and abdominal pain. The affected individuals were admitted to Chhattrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial (CSMM) Hospital in Kalwa for treatment.

Investigation into the cause of illness

Local activists claimed that a dead lizard was found in a utensil used for serving lunch, which may have caused the food poisoning. In response, the municipal commissioner Saurabh Rao stated that a detailed investigation is underway. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has collected samples of the food to determine the cause of contamination.

Gajanan Godhepure, the deputy municipal commissioner, confirmed that a show-cause notice was issued to Adarsh Mahila Mandal, the women’s self-help group responsible for providing the meals.

Medical response and treatment

The incident came to light around 2 pm after students from the morning session began showing signs of illness. Dr. Rakesh Barot, Dean at CSMM Hospital, said, “Initially, 24 students from classes V to VIII reported feeling unwell. A team of pediatric specialists from the hospital visited the school and examined around 100 students. Out of them, 41 students and one teacher were admitted for further care.”

Calls for accountability

Local political leaders expressed their concerns about the incident. Rohidas Munde, a Shiv Sena UBT functionary from Diva, criticized the authorities and demanded strict action against both the contractor and civic officials. The police