Twenty-two students of the Government Polytechnic College for Girls hostel in Pebbair, Wanaparthy district, fell ill after eating chicken curry served at the hostel on Wednesday night, according to a report by Deccan Chronicle. Several students began vomiting and experiencing severe stomach pain a few hours after the meal.
Hostel staff initially provided tablets to the students for relief. As the condition of some students became more serious, most of the affected girls were shifted to a hospital near the hostel, the report said. Twelve students were later taken to the government primary health centre in Pebbair on Thursday morning for treatment.
The students’ parents travelled to the hospital after their daughters contacted them about their health. The parents sought information about the students’ condition while treatment was under way.
All 12 students taken to the government primary health centre were discharged by Thursday evening, according to the report. The available account does not indicate that any student remained hospitalised after the discharge, nor does it report any deaths or life-threatening complications.
Officials said hostel staff provide chicken curry to the students every Wednesday and had served it as usual on the day of the incident. The students’ illness several hours after eating the meal has raised questions about the quality and handling of food supplied at the government-run hostel.
The report does not establish the medical cause of the students’ symptoms or confirm whether the food was contaminated. It also does not mention any laboratory test, food-safety inspection, sample collection or formal inquiry into the meal. The immediate response described in the report involved providing tablets, shifting affected students to nearby medical facilities and treating the 12 students at the government primary health centre.
The incident places attention on the responsibility of hostel administrators to maintain safe food practices for students living in residential educational institutions. It also highlights the importance of prompt medical assistance and communication with parents when several students fall ill after a common meal.
The reported students’ discharge on Thursday evening was the latest official outcome available in the account. Further information on any inspection, testing or administrative action was not reported.
