Following a tragic incident where one student died and over 100 others fell ill after consuming a meal at a tribal residential school, the Odisha government has initiated a high-level investigation. The opposition BJD has demanded a judicial inquiry, threatening a 12-hour district-wide bandh on April 18 if their demands are ignored.
Acting on instructions from Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Central) Sudhansu Mohan Samal visited the school to inspect drinking water and cooking facilities. Samal also visited the Rasgovindpur Community Health Centre (CHC) to monitor the recovery of students and consult with medical staff regarding the cause of the outbreak.
“I visited the school and inspected facilities, including drinking water and cooking arrangements. I also interacted with students undergoing treatment at the Rasgovindpur CHC and doctors,” Samal said.
“I will try to find out the reason behind the incident and steps needed to prevent such occurrences in future,” he added.
Preliminary reports indicate students at Kakabandha Ashram School were served a meal on Sunday morning that deviated from the government’s authorized menu.
Families of the victims reported that the children consumed “pakhala” (fermented rice), mashed potatoes, and mango chutney. Shortly after, dozens began suffering from severe vomiting and diarrhea. Of the 100 students initially affected, 67 required urgent transfer to PMR Medical College and Hospital in Baripada.
Mayurbhanj District Collector Hema Kanta Say confirmed the death of Rupali Besra, a class 5 student. Despite being admitted to the ICU on Monday and receiving intensive medical care, she passed away on Tuesday morning. Medical Officer Sashikanta Sethi noted that while 12 students have been discharged, two remain in the ICU in stable condition.
“Of those admitted to the medical college, one died. Twelve students have been discharged, and two are in the ICU, but their condition is stable,” Sashikanta Sethi, a medical officer, said.
Meanwhile, the last rites of the girl who died on Tuesday were carried out at her native village, Rasgovindpur.
The situation remains dire for another student, Laxmipriya Besra, who was moved to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack due to her deteriorating health. Meanwhile, the deceased girl’s final rites were performed in her home village of Rasgovindpur amidst a tense atmosphere.
Ahead of the cremation, irate locals clashed with police while staging an agitation, demanding Rs 25 lakh for the victim’s family. The protestors did not allow the body to be taken out of the vehicle when it reached the village.
Betnoti SDPO Minati Biswal said, “People beat up teachers and pelted stones at police personnel. The agitators also threw blazing bamboo sticks at police.”
Around 10 police officers were injured in the clash, she said, adding that security forces had to resort to mild lathicharge to bring the situation under control.
“We will register a case in connection with the violence,” Biswal informed.
A case has already been registered in the death of the girl following a complaint by her mother.
The school’s headteacher, Jayant Kumar Panigrahi, has been suspended on charges of negligence of duty, and the government has announced Rs 7 lakh ex gratia to the family of the deceased student, officials said.
The fact-finding teams of BJD and Congress visited the village and met the family of the deceased student.
The BJD leaders demanded a judicial probe into the incident and Rs 50 lakh compensation for the family. If the demands are not fulfilled, the party would call a 12-hour Mayurbhanj district bandh on April 18, a BJD leader said.
ଆଦିବାସୀ ଛାତ୍ରୀଙ୍କ ମୃତ୍ୟୁରେ ନ୍ୟାୟିକ ତଦନ୍ତ ଦାବି କରି ଆସନ୍ତା ଅପ୍ରେଲ ୧୮ ତାରିଖରେ ୧୨ ଘଣ୍ଟିଆ ମୟୂରଭଞ୍ଜ ହରତାଳ କରିବ ବିଜୁ ଜନତା ଦଳ।
ଏହି ଘଟଣା ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଦୁଃଖଦ, ଅମାନବିକ ଓ କର୍ତ୍ତୃପକ୍ଷଙ୍କ ଗୁରୁତର ଅବହେଳାର ଜ୍ଵଳନ୍ତ ଉଦାହରଣ। ରାଜ୍ୟବ୍ୟାପୀ ଦାୟିତ୍ୱ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଧାରଣ ହେଉ।
ଏହି ଘଟଣାକୁ ନେଇ ମୃତ ଛାତ୍ରୀଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ଦଳ ଗଭୀର… pic.twitter.com/e213WA49NE
— Biju Janata Dal (@bjd_odisha) April 15, 2026
The Congress team led by Sudarshan Das met the students under treatment and also the family of the deceased girl student. The Congress leaders too demanded Rs 50 lakh ex gratia and a government job for her family.
