Photo by Tony (Flickr)

The fall-out of the food poisoning incident that took place at the Indian Institute of Management Indore (IIMI) on Saturday which rendered about 200 students ill, has forced a change in hygiene rules in the campus as well as an addition in the menu. Besides checking and replacing all water coolers on the campus, the menu has a new entrant – khichdi – which will be available all the time in the mess. Also, a ‘sick diet’ has been made available to the rooms of the sick students by just a simple phone call to the hostel/mess office.

Classes resumed yesterday after a two day gap and tremendous activity all over the campus. While some of the affected students have regained health and joined classes, a few are still in their hostel rooms and three yet at Choithram hospital. The three in the hospital are out of danger but doctors want to keep them under observation. Parents of most of the students are still on the campus and awaiting full recovery of their wards.

According to a note put out by the IIMI director Dr N. Ravichandran, a committee consisting of Dean (Administration), Chief Administrative Officer, and Medical Officer Dr. Baldev Dembani has been formulated to prepare a detailed report on the incident. This committee may also include the Chief Medical Officer, Indore and Food Controller of Indore Municipal Corporation. This report will be submitted on June 26 after which necessary action be taken, if the report identifies some persons responsible for the incident.

While earlier it was believed that it was stale coconut chutney eaten at breakfast which possibly caused the food poisoning, the fact that students started showing symptoms only by evening discounts the chutney theory. Water coolers and lunch menu are also under scrutiny. Two safety officers of the Indore Municipal Corporation have been making regular trips to the campus as well since the incident.