BHUBANESWAR, April 15: Following a tragic incident at a tribal residential school in Mayurbhanj where one girl lost her life and over 100 students were hospitalized after consuming a meal, the Odisha government has initiated a probe into the matter. Meanwhile, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident and threatened to call a 12-hour bandh in the district on April 18 unless their demand is met.

In response to the Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi's directive, Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Central), Sudhansu Mohan Samal, visited the affected school. During his visit, Samal conducted a thorough inspection of the school’s facilities, including the drinking water and cooking arrangements. He also engaged with students undergoing treatment at the Rasgovindpur Community Health Centre (CHC), as well as the medical staff attending to them.

"I visited the school to assess the situation first-hand and interacted with the staff, students, and their parents. I also took a close look at the health facilities, including the treatment of students at the CHC," Samal stated after the visit.

The government’s response highlights the urgency of investigating the food safety protocols at the school and ensuring such incidents do not recur. The investigation is expected to uncover the root causes behind the food poisoning, which has shaken the local community and raised serious concerns over food safety standards in educational institutions.