Bhubaneswar, Dec 9: In an incident related to the midday meal scheme, the Headmistress of an Upper Primary School in Dengpadar village, Balangir district, was suspended by the Block Education Officer (BEO) following a food contamination case that resulted in 68 students being hospitalized. On December 7, students consumed a meal that had mistakenly been contaminated with detergent instead of turmeric, leading to immediate health concerns.

Reports indicate that the cook accidentally added detergent from a container they believed was turmeric when preparing the meal. After consuming the contaminated food, numerous students began to experience symptoms of illness and were swiftly taken to the Mother and Child Hospital in Titlagarh for treatment.

In the aftermath of this grave incident, local residents expressed their outrage, demanding the transfer of committee members and teachers associated with the school. As tensions escalated, they locked the school in protest. In response, Santanu Kumar Pratihari, the Block Education Officer, took action by suspending Headmistress Gita Mahadik to address the community's concerns and ensure accountability.

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