Thirteen school children in a village in Bankura district, West Bengal, fell severely ill after consuming mushrooms they cooked at an Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) centre. The children, who were initially taken to Raipur Rural Hospital with symptoms of food poisoning, including vomiting and severe stomach ache, were later shifted to Bankura Sammilani Medical College & Hospital after their condition deteriorated. Fortunately, their condition has improved, sources said.
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According to reports, the children collected the mushrooms from a local field and cooked them at the ICDS kitchen, taking advantage of the staff’s absence. Doctors suspect that the mushrooms are infected, leading to food poisoning.
The parents of the affected children have alleged negligence on the part of the ICDS centre authorities, who allowed the children to cook and consume the mushrooms. They also pointed out that the centre lacks a boundary wall and a proper door locking system in the kitchen, highlighting a lack of safety measures.
The incident has raised concerns about the supervision and safety of children at the ICDS centre and the need for improved facilities and staff vigilance to prevent such incidents in the future.
