Kendrapara, March 9: Authorities suspended the headmistress of a government-run upper primary school after around 80 students fell ill on taking midday meal yesterday.

“Alpana Das, headmistress of Kharinasi Upper Primary School, was suspended on charges of negligent supervision. An inquiry found that the egg curry served to the children was not fit for human consumption. As a result, the children developed sickness following suspected food poisoning. The headmistress erred in duty in carrying out the quality test check of foodstuff,” said district education officer Markat Keshari Ray.

The students started vomiting immediately after taking their meal. Some of them complained of pain in lower abdomen. At least 80 students were rushed to a community health centre at Mahakalapada, primary health centre at Ramnagar and the district hospital in Kendrapara.

Additional district medical officer Manoj Kumar Behera said all the children recovered from illness and were discharged today.

“The school authorities always provide proper food to the students. On Saturday, we served egg to them. After taking egg curry, around 80 students fell ill. The school has a roll strength of 170. On Saturday, 117 students had turned up in the school,” said Das.