59 JP varsity students taken ill; food poisoning suspected

Tribune News Service

Solan, April 21

As many as 59 students of Waknaghat-based JP University were taken ill after consuming food at the hostel mess last night.

The university administration shifted 45 students to the IGMC Shimla while the remaining 14 were taken to Civil Hospital, Kandaghat, for medical treatment. Their condition is stated to be stable.

On receiving information, the district administration rushed a team of doctors headed by Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr RK Daroch and officials of the Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) Department to the university to take stock of the situation.

As many as four samples of food items and water samples from the hostel mess and the main supply tank were collected.

Officer on Special Duty, Rakesh Bhardwaj, Health Directorate, also visited the university. He took samples of various food items. He would conduct a detailed investigation, including food consumed by the affected students, and food prepared in the hostel mess, informed the CMO.

Additional District Magistrate Sandeep Negi said the team of IPH had taken water samples from the university. Since the institute was itself supplying water to the students its lab report would confirm the cause of food poisoning.

The food samples drawn by the team of doctors have been sent to the IGMC, Shimla, for analysis.

He said the condition of the students was stable and out of danger. SDM Kandaghat has also been directed to coordinate in the inquiry into the incident.