Banda: Two students of a private residential school in Uttar Pradesh died after developing vomiting and abdominal pain, while another child is recovering. Police are investigating whether food consumed before the students fell ill was connected to the deaths.
Children fell ill hours apart
The deceased have been identified as Nitin, 12, a Class 6 student, and Arun Kushwaha, 9, a Class 2 student at BL Vidya Mandir in the Jheel Ka Purwa area.
According to their families, both children had eaten momos and finger chips purchased from a shop near Mahendra Chowk on Sunday evening. However, authorities have not established any link between the food and their deaths.
Nitin reportedly became ill around 1 am on Monday and was taken to hospital by school staff. He was later brought back to the school before being taken to hospital again, where doctors declared him dead.
Arun developed symptoms around 4 am and was taken to hospital. He died while being shifted to a medical college.
Police await medical findings
A third student, Class 4 student Yogesh Shivhare, also fell ill on Monday and was undergoing treatment. He was reported to be recovering.
Police conducted post-mortems on the two deceased students and preserved their viscera for further examination. The investigation will seek to determine the exact cause of death.
Questions over school response
The deaths have also raised concerns among relatives about how the school handled the children’s illness and communicated with their families.
The school management has denied negligence, stating that staff took the children to hospital and made every effort to save them.
The incident highlights the importance of prompt medical attention, food-safety checks and effective communication when children suddenly fall ill.