The Central Reserve Police Force has ordered a probe into the case of suspected food poisoning of nearly 200 jawans at the force’s Pallipuram camp in Kerala. Sudeep Lakhtakia, Director General in-charge of the CRPF ordered a probe on Sunday into the incident that took place on Saturday night.

Among the jawans who took ill, a majority had been recently recruited and were undergoing training at the Pallipuram camp in Thiruvananthapuram. While many reports suggested that as many as 400 jawans took ill, examinations revealed that a total of 195 jawans had fallen ill, a police official said.

The jawans showed symptoms of food poisoning after reportedly having a meal of fish curry. A sample of the curry has reportedly been sent for forensic examination.  While 119 of those taken ill were admitted in various private hospitals, 76 jawans were admitted to the Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram. 

A news bulletin released by the Medical College hospital on Sunday said that almost all the jawans had been discharged by Sunday evening. “Except two, all the jawans were discharged by the evening. They are all out of danger now. Those still undergoing treatment are Sreedhar (25) and Kumaraswami (21). 119 jawans were admitted to the hospital on Saturday evening. Eight of them were returned on Saturday night itself as their condition was normal, while the rest were admitted,” the release stated.

Health minister KK Shylaja and minister for Cooperation Kadakampally Surendan had paid a visit to the jawans at the hospital on Saturday night.