30 Students Fall Ill, Food Poisoning Suspected
Over 30 ST hostel girl students hospitalised in Nalgonda after suspected food poisoning; families and officials demand accountability
Hyderabad: In an incident that reflects gross official apathy for ST hostels, at least 30 girl students of the ST Gurukul hostel at Mudigonda in Devarakonda mandal, Nalgonda district, were hospitalised after consuming food provided at the hostel.
Officials suspect that the sickness may have been caused by food poisoning. They ate chicken curry for dinner on Sunday night and lemon rice for breakfast the next morning.
Out of around 40 students in the ST hostel, more than 30 ate the chicken curry for dinner. Around midnight, some of them began complaining of stomach pain and diarrhoea. On Monday morning, the hostel staff served pulihora (lemon rice) for breakfast. Over 35 students consumed it and later reported feeling unwell.
Officials said that local medical officers visited the hostel and distributed tablets for stomach pain and diarrhoea.
Dr Ravi Prakash, medical officer at Devarakonda Area Hospital, said that at least 18 students from the Mudigonda ST hostel were admitted to the hospital with complaints of severe stomach pain and diarrhoea. By afternoon, another 12 students were shifted to the hospital, bringing the total number of admissions to 30.
“All these students initially complained of vomiting after eating lemon rice. The staff noticed some students collapsing and immediately shifted them to the hospital. We suspect food poisoning, and a team of doctors is closely monitoring the situation," Dr Ravi Prakash said.
Following the incident, the students' family members and relatives rushed to the hospital to inquire about their health condition. Doctors informed them that the students were stable and likely to be discharged by night. Some families are expected to take the students home.
District authorities have inquired into the incident and directed officials to provide necessary medical assistance. Food samples have been collected to determine the exact cause of the incident.
