Patna: Following the death of three inmates of a govt-run shelter home for girls and women at Patel Nagar in Patna, social welfare department on Thursday suspended the acting superintendent for negligence and removed all other 18 staff. An FIR has been registered at the local Shastri Nagar police station against the staff and food supplier.
Additional chief secretary (ACS) of the department, Harjot Kaur Bamhrah, visited the home, ‘Aasra Grih', on the day as well as the seven inmates hospitalised at Patna Medical College Hospital (PMCH), including one Sameena Khatoon in ICU. "Khatoon has mild fever but her condition is stable and she will be discharged in the next three-four days. The doctors informed me that the other inmates are also fine but have to be kept at the hospital for another couple of days," she said.
At least 13 inmates had complained of vomiting and diarrhoea after consuming khichadi on November 6 in the mess of the shelter home, besides their blood pressure had dipped. Of them Mohini Kumari (24) died on November 7, while Geeta Kumari (9) and Mansi Kumari (12) succumbed to food poisoning at PMCH on November 10 and 13 respectively.
Bamhrah said a team from Food Safety and Standards Authority of India had collected samples from ‘Aasra Grih' after the deaths. "The findings revealed that the turmeric powder used in the food was of poor quality and adulterated with highly toxic and carcinogenic lead chromate, and insoluble oil-based colour," she said.
"A complaint was registered against the staff for negligence, lack of monitoring and supervision. Acting superintendent Anshu Kumari has been suspended with immediate effect and departmental action will be taken against her. The other 18 staff were on contract basis," Bamhrah further said, adding new staff have been deployed.
The ACS also instructed an in-depth medical test of all 44 inmates, presently living in the shelter home.
Bamhrah said the enquiry is going on.
The ACS has also ordered the district magistrates to inspect all other homes for disabled, elderly and children, besides adoption homes under the social welfare department. Food samples will be collected from all institutes and sent for investigation.