Twenty-two students at the Government Polytechnic College for Girls in Pebbair, Wanaparthy district, fell ill after eating chicken curry served at their hostel on Wednesday night, according to a report by Deccan Chronicle. The students developed vomiting and severe stomach pain within a few hours of the meal, prompting several of them to seek medical treatment.
The report said hostel staff initially gave the students tablets for relief. Most of the affected students were then taken to a hospital near the hostel. As the condition of 12 students became a concern, staff members took them to the government primary health centre in Pebbair on Thursday morning.
All 12 students treated at the primary health centre were discharged by Thursday evening, the report said. Parents travelled to the hospital after their children contacted them about their condition. The account does not identify any fatalities or state that any student remained hospitalised after the reported discharges.
Officials cited in the report said hostel staff serve chicken curry to students every Wednesday and had followed the usual schedule on this occasion. The rapid onset of symptoms after the meal has raised questions about the quality and handling of food supplied to students, although the supplied report does not establish the cause of the illness.
The incident places attention on the food arrangements at residential educational institutions, where students depend on hostel kitchens and staff for regular meals. In such settings, the safety of ingredients, cooking practices, storage conditions and responses to complaints can directly affect the health of a large number of students. The report, however, does not provide details of any food-safety inspection, laboratory testing, medical diagnosis or administrative inquiry.
There is also an unresolved discrepancy in the supplied source material. The article text and original headline refer to 22 students, while the source URL contains the figure 40. Deccan Chronicle’s published account, as supplied here, does not explain the difference. The number of affected students should therefore be confirmed with the college, health authorities or an official medical record before the incident is reported as a verified count.
The immediate reported outcome is that the 12 students taken to the government primary health centre were discharged on Thursday evening. Further confirmation is required on the final number of affected students, the medical findings and whether authorities ordered an inspection of the hostel kitchen or food supplies.
