A tragic incident occurred in Supaul where a 10-year-old girl passed away after experiencing severe illness alongside two other students at a residential madrasa, suspected to be caused by food poisoning. In a related situation in Bhagalpur, three girls from a residential school were hospitalized after inadvertently consuming tea that had been mistakenly made with phenyl.
These two incidents have sparked official investigations into the safety protocols in place at the respective educational institutions.
In Supaul, the three madrasa students fell ill shortly after dinner on Monday night and were promptly taken to a private hospital. According to Supaul Superintendent of Police Sarath R S, one girl’s condition worsened, leading to her death during treatment on Tuesday. He stated, “The post-mortem examination has been completed, and further actions will be determined based on the findings. The other two girls are in stable condition,” emphasizing that the true cause of death will only be established following a thorough investigation.
The management of the madrasa informed local news outlets that approximately 60 to 65 girls study and live at the facility, which has been operational for about two years. The deceased girl had reportedly been residing there for approximately 18 months. They noted, “The students appeared to be in good health until Monday evening. The mother of the deceased had visited earlier that day, bringing her sweets and a samosa from a fair. Later that evening, those who had eaten them fell ill. The family was notified, and the girl was taken to the hospital.”
Following the incident, a team from the district education department conducted an inspection of the madrasa at the District Magistrate’s request. “Officials assessed the institution’s operations, facilities, living arrangements, and documentation, including whether it had the necessary permissions to house students and if regulations were being followed,” a source revealed, indicating a preliminary assessment that pointed towards possible food poisoning.
In the second incident in Bhagalpur, three girls from a residential school in Naugachia became ill after mistakenly using phenyl, which was kept in a glass, believing it to be milk while preparing tea on Monday evening. “The students were initially treated at a local community health center before being referred to a hospital in Bhagalpur, where they continue to receive medical care,” another source reported.
The Naugachia Police and the District Education Officer have requested information from the school administration, stating that appropriate action will be taken following an investigation into how phenyl ended up in a glass in the kitchen and whether there was any negligence on the part of staff or responsible individuals.
