rediff.com: Nearly 2,000 students fall ill in Pondicherry


	HOME \| NEWS \| PTI \| REPORT

Thursday
September 5, 2002
1722 IST

NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
SOUTH ASIA
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES
SEARCH REDIFF

Click for confirmed
seats to India!

Is your Company
registered?

Spaced Out ?
Click Here!

Secrets every
mother should
know

Search the Internet
Tips

Nearly 2,000 students fall ill
in Pondicherry

Nearly 2,000 children in six schools in the Union Territory of Pondicherry fell ill on Thursday after consuming bread and milk supplied under a newly introduced scheme, prompting the government to order an inquiry.

The students complained of giddiness and vomiting after eating the breakfast and were rushed to hospitals where all but five were discharged after treatment, Chief Minister N Rangasamy said.

The five remaining students have been kept in the hospital under observation, he told reporters

The government immediately suspended the Rajiv Gandhi Free Breakfast Scheme, launched on August 14 by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, and asked District Collector A Anbarasu to probe the incident.

Samples of the milk and bread given to the students have been sent for necessary tests, Education Minister Lakshminarayanan said.

Rangasamy, accompanied by Lakshminarayanan and Health Minister E Valsaraj, visited the students in the hospitals.

More reports from Pondicherry

Tell us what you think of this report