Rajesh Kumar PandeyDumka: Two separate suspected food-poisoning incidents in Dumka district left 33 people, including trainees and children, ill on Saturday. Officials said all affected persons are now out of danger.In the first incident, 21 trainees, including 20 female students undergoing skill development training at the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Kaushal Kendra on the ITI campus at Sapchala in Masalia block, fell ill after allegedly eating food contaminated by a lizard.According to reports, the trainees developed vomiting and nausea shortly after dinner. Local villagers rushed to the training centre and helped shift them to the Masalia Community Health Centre (CHC). Five girls with relatively severe symptoms were later referred to Phulo Jhano Medical College and Hospital (PJMCH), Dumka, for advanced treatment.Preliminary findings suggest a lizard accidentally fell into the vegetable curry during preparation. The cooks allegedly continued cooking with mobile phone flashlights after a power outage, as the residential training centre had no generator.A fact-finding team of the agency operating the centre arrived from Jamshedpur on Sunday and inspected the premises. It removed warden Manju Maya Kisku, Sanjeev Kumar Mahato, cooks Bhim Manjhi and Devdas Gorai, along with another staff member, for alleged negligence. A detailed inquiry has been ordered.Local residents also protested, alleging poor infrastructure, lack of security, absence of boundary walls and inadequate supervision at the centre.In another incident, around a dozen children from Khadukdama village under Shikaripara police station limits fell ill after allegedly consuming seeds of a poisonous wild fruit while returning from school. Mistaking the fruit for cashew, they ate the seeds while playing.They later complained of severe stomach pain, body cramps and dizziness, with some reportedly turning semi-conscious. All were admitted to Shikaripara CHC, while six were referred to PJMCH.
