Dibrugarh: 186 children take ill after mid-day meal

Dibrugarh (Assam): Altogether 186 children were on Monday admitted to hospital after having mid-day meal at their school in Assam's Dibrugarh district, official sources said.

The students of tea garden labourers were served the meal around 1 pm and immediately after 30 of them fainted and 156 others complained of dizziness. They were rushed to the Barbarua primary health centre where the doctors referred them to the Assam Medical College in Dibrugarh.

The condition of nearly 40 children was stated to be serious, the sources said.

Agitated tea garden labourers gheraoed the headmaster and teachers of the school and senior police and civil officials brought the situation under control.

The district authorities have ordered an inquiry into the incident and the samples of the meal have been sent for testing.