Dharamsala, September 16
Scores of Tibetan students of Sherab Gatsel Lobling School (Tibetan Transit School) were taken ill with suspected food poisoning today after they had their dinner in the school last night.

Of these, 29 had been admitted at the Dr Rajindra Prasad Zonal Medical College and Hospital, Dharamsala, and the Delek Hospital when reports last came in. The number is expected to rise further.

Reports of the ailment swung the district administration into action, besides creating ripples in the Tibetan Government-in-exile, which was busy with its assembly session. The District Health Officer, Dr S.N. Sharma, was immediately rushed to the Transit School to monitor the precautionary measures.

The Transit School has a total student strength of 590 students and a total of 54 teaching staff members who took the vegetable dinner served in the school yesterday evening.

Even though the school authorities denied that the total number was not more than 50, sources said many students were being provided medication at the dispensary, located within the school.

Mr Yonten Norbu, Principal of the school said the co-education school had students in the age group of 18 to 30 years, who had come from Tibet for adult education.

“The doctors from Delek Hospital have checked the school kitchen and water tank for hygiene-level and found the conditions satisfactory. Some of the students had consumed curd, eggs and noodles from outside last night and that could be the reason for the problem, he said.

A total of 25 patients have been admitted at the Zonal Dharamsala Hospital and seven at the Delek Hospital. Seven teachers have also been deployed for assisting the students in the hospitals,” he added.

Talking to The Tribune, Dr J.R. Azad, Medical Superintendent, Zonal Hospital, said a team of doctors had been sent to the Transit School to establish the actual cause of the disease.

“It could be food poisoning or water contamination as the symptoms are vomiting and diarrhoea. The only thing is that if it was food poisoning, all, who had the food, should have been affected,” he said.

Mr Tenta Samkhar, Secretary, Health, Tibetan Government-in-exile, said he had ordered an inquiry to find out the actual cause. We had some students with complaints of vomiting and diarrhorea a few days back also and they were admitted at the Delek Hospital.