The headmistress of G V Raja Sports School here, where around 70 students had showed symptoms of food poisoning, was today suspended from service due to alleged dereliction of duty, officials said.
Sasikala was suspended by Director of Public Instructions K V Mohankumar as she failed to report the matter of food poisoning, which occurred yesterday, to higher officials on time, they said.
"She was not available over phone throughout the day. She was also not present at the hospitals where the children were admitted," a top official of the education department said.
She also allegedly did not respond to the food safety officials when they inquired about the incident and arrived at the school to collect food samples, the official said.
Of the total students, including girls, who developed uneasiness after reportedly consuming food at the state government-run school canteen, 27 were admitted to the Government Medical College hospital here and the rest to the state-run Peroorkkada hospital.
Meanwhile, hospital sources said most of the hospitalised students were discharged today, while adding that the condition of none of the remaining students was serious and they would be soon discharged.
