Amid tension following the death of a Class 5 student due to suspected food poisoning at a government-run tribal school in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has declared an ex gratia of Rs three lakh for the deceased’s family. An inquiry by the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), Central Division, has also been ordered by the Chief Minister. The student, Rupali Besra, from the Ashram School in Mayurbhanj district, passed away, leading to the CM expressing deep sorrow and offering condolences to the family.
The Chief Minister, CM Majhi, has further announced an ex gratia of Rs 3 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) for the bereaved family. Additionally, an RDC-level inquiry into the incident has been initiated by the Chief Minister. The Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Central Division) has been directed to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the illness of the students and the subsequent death of Rupali. A detailed report is expected to be submitted after the RDC’s visit to the government Ashram School.
In response to the incident, a medical team is scheduled to visit Rasgovindpur for health check-ups of the children. The Directorate of Public Health has already deployed the Joint Director of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and another doctor (Microbiology) to Baripada. It is worth noting that over 140 students at the hostel of a state government-run Ashram School in Mayurbhanj district fell ill after consuming a meal that included ‘pakhala’ (fermented rice) and other items.
Following their illness, the students were taken to the nearby Community Health Centre, with about 70 of them later transferred to the medical college in Baripada as their health deteriorated. Tragically, Rupali Besra, aged 12, passed away on Tuesday while receiving treatment in the ICU. As a consequence of the incident, the school’s headmaster has been suspended.
