The National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to Odisha's Chief Secretary and the SP of Mayurbhanj district, seeking a detailed report within two weeks over the death of a girl student and 100 other pupils falling ill after eating stale food at a state-run school.
The NHRC took suo motu cognisance of reports about the death of one student and 100 other students falling ill after consuming stale food at the residential hostel of Kakabandh Ashram School of Mayurbhanj district in Odisha on April 14, 2026.
The victim was a class 5 student of the school run by the ST and SC Welfare Department of the state government.
The NHRC has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise serious issues of human rights violations of the victims.
According to the report, the condition of about 67 students was serious, and they were shifted to the Baripada Medical College and Hospital, while 41 others were admitted to a Community Health Centre.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced an administrative inquiry by the Revenue Divisional Commissioner, central division and an ex gratia of ₹3 lakh for the girl's family and the headmaster of the school, Jayanta Kumar Panigrahi, was suspended by the local administration.
