100 Students Suffer Food Poisoning at Tribal School in Thane, FIR Filed Against 4

A First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against four individuals after more than 100 students suffered from food poisoning at a tribal school in Thane, Maharashtra, on Wednesday.

A total of 117 students, including 48 girls, were admitted to the Shahapur sub-district hospital after they experienced vomiting and other symptoms of food poisoning following a midday meal, Shahapur tehsildar Komal Thakur told PTI.

The incident took place at the Sant Gadge Maharaj Primary and Secondary Ashram School, a residential school for tribal children located at Bhatsai in Shahapur taluka on the outskirts of Mumbai. The school houses 290 students from Classes 1 to 10, and 168 of them were served the food brought from outside on Wednesday.

The food, consisting of pulao and gulab jamun, was reportedly ordered from an external vendor for the occasion of the first death anniversary of a villager from Bhatsai.

Following the food poisoning incident, an FIR was registered against the school superintendent, headmistress of the primary school, headmaster of the secondary school, and the person who supplied the food.

They have been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including:

• Section 284: Handling poisonous substance in a reckless or negligent manner, endangering human life
• Section 336: Doing any act which endangers human life or personal safety of others
• Section 337: Causing hurt to any person by committing an act, rashly or negligently, endangering human life or safety of others
• Section 34: Common intention

Students Undergoing Treatment, Food Samples Sent for Testing

As of Thursday morning, seven girls remained hospitalized for treatment, while the others had been discharged. Samples of the food items served to the children have been collected and sent for laboratory testing to determine the exact cause of the food poisoning.

Senior Officials Visit Hospital, Families Demand Action

Senior officials from the district administration visited the hospital to inquire about the students' condition. Families and relatives of the affected students also gathered outside the hospital, prompting the deployment of police to maintain order.

The parents of the affected students and some social organizations have demanded strict action against the school management for their alleged negligence in ensuring the safety and well-being of the students.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and further details are awaited.