Bijalata, July 25: A suspected food poisoning outbreak at Sargoda Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) under the Bijatala Block Education Office in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district has sparked concern after the number of students suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting rose dramatically from 20 to 92 within three days. The girls' hostel has now been converted into a temporary treatment centre, with a dedicated medical team stationed on the campus.

According to officials, the first cases were reported on Wednesday, when around 20 students complained of diarrhoea and vomiting after allegedly consuming stale fermented rice (Pakhala), substandard sattu, and paneer curry prepared using expired ingredients served in the hostel. The affected students were initially shifted to Rairangpur Sub-Divisional Hospital for treatment.

While the first batch of students recovered and was discharged, fresh cases continued to emerge over the following days. A special medical team was subsequently deployed to the hostel, where an emergency health camp has been set up to treat the affected students on-site. Doctors attending to the students said 92 girls have so far reported symptoms of food poisoning, attributing the outbreak to the consumption of poor-quality food.

The incident has triggered a political and administrative response. Following a report from the Bamanghaty Sub-Collector to the District Collector, senior officials, including the District Education Officer (DEO), Block Education Officer (BEO), and the Bijatala BDO, visited the school to review the situation. A team of ruling party representatives also inspected the hostel.

The outbreak has, however, exposed conflicting claims over the scale of the incident. While the attending doctors confirmed that 92 students had fallen ill, the District Education Officer maintained that the number of affected students was lower, raising questions over the discrepancy in official figures. The contradiction has fuelled public concern and prompted demands for greater transparency.

The incident has left parents deeply anxious, with many arriving at the hostel to take their daughters home. Local residents and public representatives have demanded a thorough investigation into the alleged supply of substandard food and strict action against those found responsible for the lapse. Authorities are expected to submit a detailed inquiry report after completing their investigation.