60 students of 2 schools fall ill after mid-day meal

BAGALKOT: In a curious coincidence, 60 students in two government schools – around 220km apart – fell sick after eating the midday meal on Thursday. In both cases, it is alleged, a dead lizard was found in the food.
The children were rushed to hospital after they vomited and complained of stomach pain. All are out of danger.
In Bagalkot, 40 children fell ill after eating at the government primary school in Chikka Magi village in Hungund taluk.Soon after the meal, many vomited and complained of dysentery. A dead lizard was reportedly found in the food served to the students.
Around 190 students ate the midday meal and were rushed to the Kamatagi primary health centre. They were administered first aid and the sick were shifted to the district hospital in Bagalkot and taluk hospital in Hungund. Zilla panchayat president Veena Kashappanavar and officials visited the taluk hospital.
About 220km away, in Ballary, 20 students of the government primary school in Agalure village in Siraguppa taluk were taken ill after the midday meal. They were shifted to VIMS Hospital in Ballari.
Sources said one of the students found a dead lizard in the food served to him and he raised alarm. The panicked students started vomiting and complained of abdominal pain.
Education department officials and the tahsildar visited the school and hospital and spoke to the students and parents.