As many as 35 students of the Government Lower Primary School at Manchegowdana Palya on the outskirts of Bengaluru, studying in classes one to five, took ill on Monday after having milk served under the government's ‘Ksheera Bhagya’ scheme.
Some were treated as outpatients at the local Primary Health Centre (PHC), while others have been admitted to the district hospital in Ramanagaram. “The condition of all the students is stable,” said officials at the Department of Health and Family Welfare.
According to sources at the district hospital, most of the students were moderately dehydrated when they were brought in ambulances. The students will be kept under supervision till Monday evening, sources added.
Expired milk powder?
The milk powder, which was used to prepare milk under the scheme, was manufactured and supplied in February, Suresh, former gram panchayat member, told The Hindu .
As many as 40 students are studying at the school, which falls under the Gopahalli Gram Panchayat limits. The teachers prepared milk and served it to the children. The children complained of vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach ache soon after. The teachers immediately alerted their department besides summoning ambulances, Mr. Suresh said.
No doctors
At least eight ambulances were pressed into service to shift the children. However, according to the parents, there were no sufficient staff and facilities to treat the children. The anxious parents shifted the children to the District Hospital in Ramanagaram, which is about 20 km from the PHC, for treatment. A few had taken their children to private clinics near Kengeri and Bidadi, a parent said.
Laboratory test
Upon hearing the news, senior officials from the health, education, police and revenue departments rushed to the school.
The Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) and Health officials have taken samples of the milk powder for laboratory testing.
