Aug. 1: Trauma over, it’s homecoming time for the 24 lucky children of Chhapra’s Dharmasati-Gandaman village.
Half of the 24 children admitted at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) following the July 16 midday meal tragedy are to be released tomorrow after 18 days of treatment.
The Saran administration has proposed to set up a memorial for the 23 victims on the school ground in which they have been buried.
On Thursday, a polygraph test was conducted on prime accused Meena Devi, the suspended principal of the Gandaman Primary School, at Town police station in Chhapra under the supervision of two senior experts of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory, New Delhi. The process started at 1.30pm and was continuing till the time of filing of the report.
PMCH superintendent Amar Kant Jha Amar said 12 of the poisoned children appeared perfect after being kept off medication for four days.
“They have been properly checked and according to today’s (Thursday) medical bulletin, they are fine. If all is fine, 12 will be released on Friday followed by the rest on Saturday. The doctors are keeping a watch on them,” the senior doctor told The Telegraph today.
The doctor added that the children needed proper care once home. “Doctors at Chhapra Sadar hospital will be informed but parents need to ensure that they take proper care of their children. The parents will be properly briefed on that,” Amar said.
At Gandaman village, the primary school has been merged with the middle school but with no students coming fro classes, teachers are idle.
Saran district magistrate (DM) Abhijit Sinha said told The Telegraph: “According to the proposal, a boundary wall would be constructed around the entire primary school campus, where the children were buried. A memorial would be built for them. The village would be connected with the main road to ensure its proper development and solar-powered streetlights would be installed. A private land would be acquired for the development works.”
Chief minister Nitish Kumar had recently announced the all-round development of Gandaman. However, problems still persist with villagers not comfortable with sending their children to school.
“Students are not coming to the merged school. The teachers come but classes are not held. It will take sometime before villagers gain confidence and start sending their children to school again. The administration is trying to convince them,” Sinha told The Telegraph.
In another development, at least 11 children of Molanapur Middle School in Amnour block under the jurisdiction of Bheldih police station of Saran were referred to PMCH on Thursday after they consumed water from a hand pump in front of the school. Sources said 22 students complained of nausea and vomiting after drinking the water. Some tablets were found near the pump, they added.
“The block education officer of Amnour has gone to monitor the situation but the angry villagers have taken him hostage. The administration has referred some children to PMCH. The matter will be probed,” said DM Sinha.
The incident came a day after 48 children belonging to government schools in Arwal and Lakhisarai districts fell ill after eating midday meal.