Kishanganj/Patna: At least 16 students were taken to hospital late on Friday after falling ill with suspected food poisoning at a residential girls’ school in Kishanganj district of Bihar, officials said.
The incident occurred at the hostel of the OBC Plus 2 Residential Girls’ School in Khadi Basti, in the Sadar block, shortly after dinner. Students reported stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhoea after eating halwa that had been served as part of the meal.
As more students complained of symptoms, panic spread through the hostel. School authorities alerted emergency services, and ambulances transported the affected girls to Kishanganj Sadar Hospital.
Dr Gaurav Kumar, a doctor at the hospital, said 16 children were undergoing treatment. “All the students admitted with food poisoning are stable and receiving appropriate medical care,” he said.
Among those hospitalised are students aged between 11 and 14, including Nandini Kumari, Raj Priya, Sweety, Lakshmi, Rakhi, Saloni, Shivani, Sharda, Priti Priya, Barsha Rani, Shivani Bharti and Sonakshi Priya.
Speaking from the hospital, several students said their health deteriorated soon after dinner. “Halwa was served for dinner. After eating it, we suddenly started feeling stomach pain and vomiting. We informed the warden and were brought to the hospital,” one of the girls said.
Local authorities said the cause of the suspected food poisoning was being examined and that food samples would be tested. School officials said they were cooperating with the inquiry and monitoring the students’ recovery.
