Deoria: In a tragic development, a 15-year-old student from Gorakhpur has died following a food poisoning incident that affected numerous children. The student, Shivam Yadav, a resident of Bhaisiya Ramnagar in Maharajganj district, passed away on Wednesday morning at Baba Raghav Das Medical College (BRD Medical College), Gorakhpur.
On August 5, approximately 80 students from the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Ashram School in Mehroona village exhibited symptoms of stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhoea after consuming a school meal. They were promptly hospitalised, and as of now, 61 students remain under care at Deoria Medical College.
District Magistrate Divya Mittal has expressed profound sorrow over the incident, stating that all students currently in Deoria Medical College are expected to be discharged soon. The ashram schools, managed by the Social Welfare Department, provide free residential education to students from underprivileged backgrounds, with 94 such schools operating across the state.
Shivam Yadav’s condition began deteriorating shortly after the food poisoning incident. Initially admitted to Maharshi Deoraha Baba Medical College in Deoria, his health seemed stable until August 6, when a sudden drop in blood pressure necessitated his transfer to the ICU. Despite medical interventions, his condition did not improve, and he was later transferred to BRD Medical College for advanced care.
At BRD Medical College, Shivam was placed on a ventilator, and Additional CMO Dr Surendra Chaudhary was sent to coordinate his treatment. Sadly, despite all efforts, Shivam passed away early on August 7.
This incident highlights the critical need for stringent food safety protocols in schools to prevent such tragedies. The district administration and medical teams are continuing to investigate the cause of the food poisoning and ensure that necessary precautions are taken to avoid future occurrences.