Over 70 tribal Ashram school students fall ill in Polavaram district

Over 70 students fell ill, reportedly due to food poisoning, after being served semi-cooked idly and sambar at the Government Tribal Welfare Ashram School at Devarapalli in the Rampachodavaram agency area of Polavaram district on Saturday.

The Integrated Tribal Development Agency, Rampachodavaram, authorities shifted the affected students to the Rampachodavaram Area Hospital and nearby health facilities after they complained of vomiting and stomach ache.

Speaking to The Hindu, Polavaram district in-charge Collector and Alluri Sitarama Raju District Collector A. S. Dinesh Kumar said that food poisoning was suspected to be the cause of the illness and that all the students admitted to hospitals were out of danger. He said that water and food samples had been collected for testing and further investigation.

Meanwhile, Minister for Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare Satya Kumar Yadav on Saturday spoke to officials of the health department and Polavaram district about the treatment being provided to the students admitted to hospitals.

The Minister instructed officials to send a team of additional medical specialists if required and enquired about the condition of the students who fell ill at the tribal school.