Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has announced that the Meghalaya government will provide an ex gratia of ₹3 lakh to the next of kin of the two students who lost their lives in the tragic food poisoning incident in Mandya, Karnataka. Additionally, the state will bear the medical expenses of all affected students.
“Our government will extend ex gratia of ₹3 lakhs to the next of kin and also take care of the medical expenditure of all the ailing children. Our team is in Karnataka to assist the families in this difficult time. Prayers for their recovery,” said the Chief Minister.
With 22 students from Meghalaya currently receiving treatment at the Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences, officials are closely coordinating with Karnataka authorities to ensure their well-being. The Meghalaya government is also making arrangements to bring the students back home once they are discharged, following necessary legal procedures.
A high-level team from Meghalaya’s Education Department has arrived in Mandya, Karnataka, to assess the aftermath of a tragic food poisoning incident that claimed the lives of two students from Meghalaya. The officials met with the District Magistrate of Mandya, visited the hospital where affected students are undergoing treatment, and inspected the residential school where the incident occurred. The team is expected to submit a detailed report to the Meghalaya Education Department following their assessment.
Commissioner & Secretary, Home (Police) Department, Govt of Meghalaya, Cyril V Diengdoh, IAS, also visited the site to coordinate the state’s response. “Now there are 22 of Meghalaya students in hospital, all are stable now. They are being monitored at the Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences. The DC and SP of Mandya and other officers from the District Administration are taking care, and two officers from the Education Department are staying back. Twenty-four students from Meghalaya were in this school, of which two have lost their lives. The 22 in the hospital are stable,” he stated.
Regarding the possibility of bringing back the students, Diengdoh confirmed, “Yes, we are coordinating since some legal procedures have to be followed, and they are still in the hospital. After their discharge, we are trying to contact their parents and coordinate in those matters. Some legal procedures will have to be followed because, here also, the hostel owner, school owner, and all have been arrested. So, the DC is following legal procedures, and we are in touch with the authorities here to bring them back.”
The local administration has intensified its probe, resulting in the arrest of three individuals, including the school owner and hostel warden. Meanwhile, medical teams continue to monitor the students’ health closely, ensuring they receive the necessary care.