Students participating in the National Cadet Corps camp at KMM College in Trikkara on Monday night.
A committee headed by the National Cadet Corps (NCC) Group Commander, Kollam, Brigadier G Suresh, has been constituted to conduct an emergency inquiry into the suspected food poisoning incident at the NCC camp at KMM College, Trikkakara on Monday.
Additional Director General on behalf of NCC has issued an order to form an inquiry committee. It is stated in the statement issued by the Additional Director General that the camp will resume from 26th January after a two-day break.
Kerala NCC Directorate is conducting 17 camps during Christmas vacation. One such camp organized by 21 Kerala Battalion under NCC Group Headquarters, Ernakulam was the camp at Thrikkakara.
Two girl cadets initially reported discomfort on Monday afternoon. This was followed by another 13 cadets reporting similar problems. These cadets were taken to Primary Health Center and Government Medical College, Kalamassery. Another 47 cadets have also been taken to a government medical college. It is mentioned in the statement that they were treated in the outpatient department and sent back to the camp.
The kitchen was found unsanitary
The district health officer and health officer of Trikkara municipality informed that the kitchen in the camp was operated in unhygienic conditions.
Several cadets complained of discomfort after lunch on Monday and the problem occurred after some collapsed late into the evening.
In-charge District Medical Officer KR Rajan was found to be operating the kitchen in an unsanitary condition. “We have collected four water samples and food samples, which will be taken by the food safety authorities. Besides, faecal samples of the affected cadets have also been collected, said Dr Rajan.
The officials of the Health Branch of Thrikkakar Municipality have also confirmed the unhygienic condition of the kitchen after finding two of the seven workers without mandatory health cards. The organizers have claimed that they have taken a temporary license to operate the kitchen.
“We have taken four water samples as we suspect it may have caused the problem. Although hot ginger coffee was given to the cadets to drink, it is suspected that unboiled water may have been added to the buttermilk given to the cadets on Monday,’ said the health officer of Trikkakar municipality.
Officials at Government Medical College, Kalamassery, one of the three hospitals where the affected cadets were taken on Monday night, confirmed the case of food poisoning. 86 students who were injured due to stomach pain and vomiting were treated at the hospital. Some were kept under observation overnight while the last student was released from the hospital on Tuesday morning, they said.
On Monday night, angry parents broke down the gate and accused the organizers of not giving proper updates, causing a tense situation in the college where the camp was conducted.
published – Dec 25, 2024 at 01:21 pm IST