Surat: Valsad district health and food safety departments on Wednesday launched an inquiry into an incident in which 64 students fell ill after having dinner at Vallabh Ashram residential school in Killa Pardi in Valsad district on Sep 4. Incidentally, school authorities did not inform health officials about the incident. Four of the affected students were also admitted to Pardi Hospital, which also did not alert the health department, sources said.The incident came to light after some parents informed district health and food safety authorities that their children had been sent home after several students fell ill.Of the 64 students, 60 were treated in the outpatient department, while four were admitted to the hospital. “The students complained of diarrhoea and fever. Neither the school nor the hospital informed us,” said Dr A K Singh, chief district health officer, Valsad.A health department team subsequently visited the school and hostel and issued directives to the hostel authorities. “Vallabh Ashram authorities have been issued a notice for not informing the health department about the incident. We will also take stern action against Pardi Hospital, run by Dr M M Qureshi, for failing to immediately inform the health department when so many students had fallen ill,” Dr Singh said.The food safety department also inspected the hostel and its kitchen. “We were not informed by the school or the hospital when the incident took place. We came to know about it today, after which our team visited and inspected the premises,” said Gaurang Patel, food safety officer.Following the inspection, the food safety department issued directives to the hostel authorities to take necessary measures.Vallabh Ashram officials said the students began complaining of health issues on the morning of Sep 4, following which doctors were called and treatment was initiated. A total of 352 students stay at the hostel.“Not all students complained of health issues and we took timely action to ensure the safety of all the students. Ensuring their good health was our priority, and while doing so, we missed informing the health and other authorities,” said Kush Sakariya, secretary of the Vallabh Ashram Trust.The residential school accommodates girls from classes I to XII and boys from classes I to V. Students live on the campus in separate hostels. According to the trust, it has been operating the hostel for 22 years and this is the first time such an incident has occurred.
