SHILLONG: In a tragic incident in Karnataka, six individuals have been arrested in connection with a food poisoning outbreak at a hostel that resulted in the deaths of two students from Meghalaya and left 22 others hospitalized.
The arrests were confirmed by Cyril VD Diengdoh, Commissioner and Secretary of the Home Department of the Meghalaya Government, who visited the affected area in Mandya following government directives.
The Karnataka police executed the arrests under Sections 286 and 106 of the Indian Penal Code at the Malavalli Rural Police Station. Among those detained are the cook from a local restaurant, the restaurant owner, and several staff members from the hostel. Authorities believe that the dinner served to the students, sourced from the restaurant, was the cause of the mass poisoning.
In reaction to the tragedy, the Meghalaya government has directed local deputy commissioners to provide an ex-gratia of Rs 3 lakh to the kin of the deceased students. The students who were affected were treated at the Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences, and three of them were said to be in the ICU in the initial reports. In the latest information, one student is said to be in critical condition now, and others are stable.
The Mandya Child Welfare Committee officer is closely following the case to see that the hospitalized students are well. The investigation is ongoing as the authorities try to establish the complete circumstances under which this incident occurred.
Also Watch: