At least 44 inmates of a government-run girls’ hostel in Murshidabad fell ill after eating dinner, prompting hospital treatment, a police investigation and the detention of a cook for questioning over allegations that a suspected intoxicating substance was mixed into the food.
The students reportedly began experiencing dizziness, nausea, vomiting sensations and persistent dryness of the throat after dinner on Saturday night. The initial suspicion was food poisoning. Security guards took the affected students to Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital, where some were admitted for treatment.
The incident took a more serious turn after several inmates alleged that a substance with intoxicating properties had been added to the paneer curry served at the hostel. The allegation has not been established, and police are examining the available evidence to determine what caused the students’ illness.
According to the report, CCTV footage from the hostel kitchen reportedly showed the cook adding something to a pan while preparing the meal. Students also claimed that two inmates who did not eat the paneer dish did not develop symptoms. These details are being examined as part of the investigation and do not, by themselves, establish what substance was involved or who was responsible.
Some hostel inmates have lodged a written complaint at Berhampore police station. Police have detained the cook for questioning and are seeking to establish whether any substance was mixed into the food and, if so, what it was. The report did not identify any formal forensic finding or police conclusion on the allegations.
The incident also exposed concerns about communication between the hostel and the families of students. Parents rushed to the hostel after learning that their daughters had fallen ill. One parent said her daughter, a first-year mathematics student who had been staying at the hostel for barely a week, had been unwell since the night of 10 October and was receiving treatment in hospital.
Another parent, BK Mandal, said his daughter had complained of persistent dizziness and nausea. He demanded a thorough investigation after learning about the reported CCTV footage. Parents also questioned why hostel authorities had not immediately informed the police.
The authorities said their immediate priority had been to ensure medical attention for the affected students. They added that the allegations were also being examined. The next stages of the case will depend on the students’ medical assessments, the examination of CCTV footage and any forensic findings relating to the food served at the hostel.
