SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Sept 11: More than 25 children fell sick after consuming alleged contaminated chowmein at Pindra Hat village under Kaliasol block, around 45 km away from here, on Sunday evening.
An official said 17 victim children were admitted to Shahid Nirmal Mahto Medical College Hospital (SNMMCH) Dhanbad while seven persons reportedly got treatment at private clinics at Kaliasol.
A doctor at the SNMMCH emergency ward said that all the children were out of danger and would be released soon.
Dhanbad Civil Surgeon (CS) Dr Chandrabhanu Pratapan said that a team from the headquarters has been sent to probe the incident and file a report so that action could be initiated. The district food safety department has also sought a report from the block officer.
The village chief (Mukhiya) said that the victim children (between age 2.5 years to 17 years) ate chowmein from a stall between 5 pm to 7.30 evening on Sunday. One hour later at around 8.30 pm all of them began vomiting and had severe headaches. First, they were taken to nearby private clinics and Nirsa Community Health Centre (CHC), but seeing their condition deteriorating doctors referred them to Dhanbad SNMMCH.
In the last six months, this is the second incident in Dhanbad when children in a large number fell sick after consuming contaminated fast food from a village hat (local market). On April 20, 2023, 80 children fell sick after consuming Chaat Masala at a village fair.
