Shillong: In a somber development, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 3 lakh to the grieving family of a 13-year-old student who tragically succumbed to suspected food poisoning in Karnataka.
The young student, Khrehlang Khongtani, a Class VI student from Lyndem village, Pynursla Civil Subdivision, was among a group of children who fell critically ill after consuming contaminated food. The food in question was leftover from Holi celebrations at an unauthorized hostel associated with a private school located in T Kagepura village, Mandya district, Karnataka.
The incident resulted in a distressing situation where approximately 30 students experienced severe symptoms, including vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration, necessitating urgent hospitalization. Chief Minister Sangma, expressing his profound condolences, pledged that the Meghalaya government would also cover the medical expenses incurred by the other affected children. He conveyed his sorrow through a post on the platform X, outlining the governments plan to support those impacted by this tragedy.
In the wake of this heartrending incident, the Meghalaya government has dispatched a two-member official team to Karnataka to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the student’s death. This team, comprising Sub-Inspector of Schools and Sub-Divisional School Education Officer P. Sunn, along with District MIS, PM-POSHAN, Shillong, R. Kharsyntiew, aims to gather detailed information and ascertain the facts leading to this unfortunate outcome. The return of Khrehlang Khongtani’s body to his home village on Monday evening marked a moment of deep mourning for the community.
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