In an unfortunate incident, nine students of a senior secondary government school for boys in south Delhi’s Deoli area were admitted to a hospital on Thursday after they consumed mid-day meal in which dead rats were found.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Manish Sisodia said that an FIR was registered against the meal supplier and they would be blacklisted.  An agency called the Jan Chetna Jagriti & Shaikshanik Vikas supplied the food in the school.

School authorities said they found two dead rats in the food. But it was too late as some of the students already consumed the food. An official at the school said, “We immediately took the students to hospital after they complained of abdominal pain and nausea.”

The students were admitted in Madan Mohan Malviya Hospital and the doctors declared them fit. The medical superintendent at the hospital said, “Nine children were admitted, five aged above 12 years and four below 12. They have no sign of diarrhoea or dehydration. They were complaining of abdominal pain which is being treated now. We will keep them under observation for tonight.”

Sisodia said that any carelessness at the school will not be accepted and ensured the mid-day meals will be cooked under the supervision of the government employees. Also, the Congress leader Kiran Walia ordered for strict supervision on the cleanliness and hygiene during the cooking.

According to Indian Express, a teacher of the school said, “There was aloo puri on the menu today. While the food was being served, two rats found their way into the sabzi given to some children from classes VI-VIII. Teachers found the rats and raised an alarm. Some of the students began to feel sick and were eventually taken to the hospital. We then informed the police.”

A school management committee said one rat was thrown away and the other was retained for the test.