At least 16 students and a staff member of a private school here in Bhandup were hospitalised today due to suspected food poisoning, a civic official said. The Class 7 students and the staff member ate food (dal khichdi) served to them at the Sahyadri Vidya Mandir in suburban Bhandup following which they complained of a stomachache. They were admitted to the nearby hospital in Mulund, the official of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said.

The students - 12 girls and four boys - and the school staffer were responding to the treatment and will be kept under observation for 24 hours, a doctor attending them said. Food poisoning is suspected to be the cause of the illness, the civic official said, adding that an inquiry would
be conducted into the matter.