Mid Day Meal: Forensic report confirms presence of poisonous pesticide
Patna: A forensic report on Saturday confirmed the presence of poisonous pesticide in the mid-day meal served to the students of the school in Chhapra where 23 children died after consuming the contaminated food.
A total 23 children died after eating the meal while 24 others and the cook Manju Devi are undergoing treatment at Patna Medical College and Hospital.
“It was also observed from the data available in the FSL report that the peak area of the poisonous substance in the oil was more than 5 times in comparison to the commercial preparation used as a control,” the ADG said.
The ADG said the sample results were compared with a control standard (Hilcron) procured from the market. The peak retention times matched the sample, which again confirmed the presence of the pesticide in the samples.
To highlight authenticity, the report said results were interpreted using NIST library, which is an internationally accepted database.
The FSL scientists tested samples of the suspected poisonous cooking medium found in a plastic container, the cooking utensil and the leftover food from a platter, Kumar said quoting the report.
Some other material like froth from the mouth of one sick child, which was collected in a cotton gauge, water and oil was taken from the place of occurrence by the police were also subjected to forensic analysis, he said adding the scientists used standard analytical method on GCMS instrument for the lab test.
