20 kids food poisoned

Two kids, food poisoned yesterday, being treated at Godagari upazila health complex in Rajshahi district.Photo: STAR

At least 20 students of Kuthipara Government Primary School in Godagari upazila of Rajshahi district fell sick after having tamarind pickles from a street vendor on the school premises yesterday morning.
Sixteen of them were admitted to Godagari 31-bed Hospital while four others were given first aid at the school.
"We rushed them to hospital as some students fainted and some others started suffering from stomach ache. They had eaten tamarind pickle after buying it from Lusi,” said Irene Parveen, headmistress of the school.
“The students fell sick as they took rotten and unhygienic food. They were suffering with dizziness, palpitation, stomach ache and nausea. All of them are out of danger as they were given timely treatment," Dr Ishaq Ali, medical officer of the hospital, said in the afternoon.
Police arrested the pickle seller, Lusi Khatun, 18, of Kuthipara area, said Zakirul Islam, officer in charge of Godagari police station.
Lusi, however, told police that the incident was first since she along with her mother started selling pickles prepared by themselves 10 years ago.
Of the 16 children admitted to the hospital, eight are students of class III, two are of class II, three are of class IV, three are of class V.
Later when Godagari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Julia Moyeen visited the sick children at the hospital, the guardians complained to her about health risks of children due to open sale of food items at schools and village shops. The UNO assured them of action in this regard.