71 children fall ill after eating sweets during I-Day

celebration Sambalpur (Odisha), Aug 16 (PTI) At least 71 schoolchildren fell ill after eating sweets distributed on theoccasion of Independence Day yesterday by the local grampanchayat in Odisha’s Sambalpur district. The children, all in the age group of five to 12, fellsick, after allegedly consuming sweet ‘bundiÂ’ during theIndependence Day celebration at Lipinda Panchayat in Sambalpurdistrict. The affected students were admitted to the DistrictHeadquarters Hospital here. The students complained of vomitting and dysenterywithin three hours of eating the sweet. Though 51 children have so far been discharged fromthe hospital, remaining 20 kids are under observation,Sambalpur Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Kodanda Raosaid. He said the children fell ill due to suspected foodpoisoning. District Collector Samarth Verma, who visited thehospital and enquired about health of the children, said hehas ordered an inquiry into the matter. "The health department officials will find out why thesweet caused discomfort to the children." the Collector said.PTI COR AAM SUSRG