School principal, 2 teachers suspended after kids fall sick

Aurangabad: The principal and two teachers of a government middle school at Ghirsindih in Aurangabad were on Wednesday suspended a day after at least 105 schoolchildren fell ill following consumption of midday meal.

The suspension of principal Manisha Kumari and teachers Punam Mishra and Mamata Kumari was ordered by the district education officer (DEO) Yaduvansh Ram at the directive of DM Kawal Tanuj.

The DM earlier visited the school and met the children.The DM has also formed a committee headed by the DEO to probe the incident. The team visited the school and also inspected the place where the midday meal is cooked.

"As per rules, the principal and teachers have to taste the meal before its distribution among students, but this rule was not being followed for the last two months," the DEO said. According to him, the principal was on leave on Tuesday without giving charge to anyone. The two teachers on duty were also not on the campus when the meal was served to the students, the DEO and added the services of the cooks would be terminated.

The DM said sample of the meals served to students on Tuesday would be sent to laboratory to find out what poisonous content it had. "Officials have been asked to ensure no such incident takes place in future in any school of the district," he said.

Civil surgeon Dr R P Singh said all the students were discharged after treatment.