In a shocking development, around 20 pupils of Jawahar Navoday Vidyalaya at Borkhadi village in Tapi region were taken to a local hospital owing to food poisoning on Friday morning.

The officials stated that more than 130 children were kept under observations.

As per district officials, the pupils of the Centre-aided residential educational institution were fed rice and curry during the night on Thursday.

In the middle of the night, several pupils complained of symptoms like stomachache, nausea and diarrhea.

The principal of the school informed the health unit at once, and six groups of health functionaries from Vyara reached the school during the early hours.

After medical examination, the health functionaries shifted 20 pupils with severe condition to the Referral Hospital in Vyara.

Vyara taluka health officer Dr R S Soni stated, "Everything is under control now. Condition of the students admitted to the hospital is stable. Our medical teams are camping in the school where the remaining students are undergoing treatment."

Deputy Collector N K Damor said that the samples of the food were forwarded for laboratory checkup and a thorough investigation was ordered.

"We talked to the school staffers to know more about which type of food is given to the children and how do they take care of hygiene. We have called the contractor who runs the kitchen service. We are waiting for the lab report to decide our future course of action," Mr. Damor said.

The school functionaries could not be met but sources stated that the kitchen services were offered by a private contractor.