At least 10 Asha workers fell ill after eating food served to them by a non-government organisation engaged to train them.

The incident occurred in Sheikhpura district, 100km southeast of Patna, on Tuesday. Civil surgeon Arvind Kumar Gupta has formed a committee to probe the incident. The NGO in charge of the training programme was Ragho Seva Sansthan.

Gupta said on Wednesday: “Soon after eating lunch comprising roti and dal, the Accredited Social Health Activist (Asha) workers complained of stomach ache and vomiting.”

He added that according to initial reports, the oil used in cooking the meal might have been contaminated.

“Unhygienic cooking conditions may have triggered the problem. But we cannot say anything for certain now. I have formed a committee to inquire into the matter. It shall submit its report soon. We shall act on the basis of the report,” said the civil surgeon, adding that if the NGO were found to be guilty of negligence, it would be blacklisted.

Munni Kumari, one of the workers who were taken ill after consuming the food, said: “We had complained about the medium of cooking.”

The NGO denied the accusations. Nirmala Kumari, secretary, Ragho Seva Sansthan, said: “All the allegations are false. We have been served a notice by the civil surgeon’s office. But the food served by us was okay.”

Seven of the 10 sick Asha workers were rushed to the sadar hospital. According to sources in the civil surgeon’s office all of them had been released by Wednesday morning. Asha workers, however, claimed that two of their colleagues were still under treatment.

Food poisoning was also the cause of the death of at least 23 children at Dharamsati-Gandaman village in Saran district, where they were served midday meal laced with poison on July 13 this year.