Another Meghalaya student died of severe food poisoning in Karnataka, taking the death toll from the Mandya district case to two.
The critically ill student, who had been referred to a higher medical facility, died on Monday night. The child was not named publicly but was 12 years old. A 13-year-old student from Meghalaya had died on Sunday.
All the other 22 students from the state are in stable condition and are being monitored closely.
The two were students of a private Gokul Educational Institution in Mandya district in Karnataka. They and the other 28 school students residing in a hostel fell ill after consuming leftover food from a Holi celebration. The hostel reportedly does not have the requisite authorisation to operate.
Today, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma informed on social media that the owner of the school and the hostel warden have been arrested and the school has been closed following the deadly incident. The Meghalaya government is making provision to bring the other students home. Sangma has already pledged Rs 3 lakh in compensation for the families of the deceased students as well as covering all the medical expenses of the others from Meghalaya.
Meanwhile, the state team deputed to the scene of the incident arrived today. The members met the District Magistrate of Mandya and also visited the hospital where the students belonging to Meghalaya are being given medical care.
They also visited the now shuttered school and met all the stakeholders. The team will be submitting their report to the Education Department subsequently.
Moreover, Cyril V Diengdoh, Commissioner and Secretary in the Home (Police) Department, also reached the spot accompanied by the district administration and local police.
The District Magistrate apprised Diengdoh that the police investigation is going on in full swing and already three people have been arrested including the school owner and hostel warden. Senior medical officers of the hospital were also present to brief him on the status of the students from Meghalaya.
