Shillong, Mar 19: The Meghalaya government has called for a thorough investigation into the tragic deaths of two students from the state due to food poisoning in Karnataka.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh stressed the importance of parents carefully researching the credibility and management of educational institutions before sending their children out of state.

A high-level team has been dispatched to Karnataka to investigate the incident, which Lyngdoh described as a matter of grave concern. She urged greater awareness within the community to ensure that students are enrolled in trustworthy institutions with proper safety measures.

The minister also expressed hopes that the education department would implement protocols to prevent such incidents in the future.

This appeal follows growing concerns over food poisoning cases in schools across India, with 979 reported incidents in 2022, the highest in six years.