Principals of two tribal schools in Banaskantha suspended after teenager dies of ‘food poisoning’ that landed over 40 in hospital

“Bharatkumar P Chauhan, principal of Shri Adivasi Ashramshala, Vekri, and Govindji P Thakor, principal of Shri Secondary and Higher Secondary Ashramshala, Vekri, were suspended for dereliction in duty and serious negligence,” Commissioner, Tribal Department, Ashish Kumar told The Indian Express.

A team from the Tribal Development Department is conducting a detailed investigation to ascertain if the food poisoning stemmed from food contamination or was a case of waterborne infection.

Kumar said the deceased, Nathabhai Shankarbhai Bubadiya, was not a student of the school and was only visiting the campus seeking admission.

The school, Shri Adivasi Ashramshala Vekari, is run by Shri Ravi Pragati Mandal.

“He had arrived on July 12. As he required a few more documents for his admission application, he was asked to return after two days but he had requested to stay on the campus,” the Commissioner said.

Speaking about the circumstances surrounding the death of the student, Dr Bharmal Patel, Additional District Health Officer (ADHO) of Banaskantha, said, “Once he was discharged from the Primary Health Centre (PHC), Mankadi, he went back to the school hostel and fell asleep. When school officials tried to wake him up on Tuesday morning, he was found dead.”

The student was among the first to be admitted to the PHC early on July 13. Eventually, a total of 40 students and three teachers were admitted to the PHC.

According to reports, several students complained of severe vomiting, stomach ache and diarrhoea around 3am on July 13.

Samples of all items used in the food have been taken by the Food and Drugs Office, Palanpur.

A total of 500 students study in three schools, namely Shri Adivasi Ashramshala (Class I to VIII), Shri Madhyamik Ashramshala (Class IX to X), and Shri Uchchatar Madhyamik Ashramshala (Class XI to XII), at Shri Adivasi Ashramshala Vekri within the same campus.

The initial report submitted by the tribal department stated that “On July 13, all the children present in the school had Kadhi Khichdi for dinner around 7 pm. After that, between 9pm and 10 pm, about 15 children who were suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting were given ORS powder and tablets provided by the PHC, Mankadi, due to which the health of the children improved and the children went to sleep…”
It further said, “But on July 14, around 2.30 am, one child…was found to be more serious and was taken to the PHC for further treatment… As his health improved, the medical officer allowed him to be taken back to the ashram. At around 7.30 am, his health deteriorated further and he was rushed to the PHC. The medical officer declared him dead.”

Officials of the health department along with a team of doctors from Banas Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI) in Palanpur arrived at the school, collected blood, food and water samples, and sent them to the Microbiology department of the medical college. Results are awaited, said Dr Patel.

Meanwhile, following the post-mortem examination, the body of the teenager was handed over to his family.

Banaskantha Superintendent of Police (SP) Akshayraj Makwana said that the police had not yet received a complaint either from the parents of the deceased boy or the school. “A station diary note has been made of the incident but if the parents want to file the complaint, the police will extend all cooperation,” said the district police chief.