HYDERABAD: A horrifying poisoning attempt at a government primary school in Dharmapuri village, Ichchoda mandal of Adilabad district, was narrowly averted on Wednesday, thanks to the alertness of school staff.
Unidentified miscreants had allegedly mixed pesticide into the students’ drinking water tank and sprinkled it over the mid-day meal ingredients. The incident came to light when staff returned to the school after a three-day holiday. While preparing to resume kitchen activities, they noticed a foul smell and froth emerging from the utensils. Alarmed, they inspected the surroundings and found a pesticide container nearby. They also confirmed contamination in the drinking water tank.
Acting swiftly, the headmaster and school staff ensured that no student accessed the water or consumed any food. The mid-day meal was not cooked that day, effectively preventing a potential tragedy. A formal complaint was lodged with the police by the teaching staff.
The school has approximately 30 students, all of whom were unharmed. The timely detection brought immense relief to the community.
However, the incident has sparked outrage among parents, school staff, and local residents, who questioned the motive behind such a malicious act. “What harm have these innocent children done to deserve this?” a villager asked, expressing the collective anger and disbelief over the deliberate attempt to harm young students.
