At least 70 students of the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Telangana Backward Classes Welfare Residential School (Girls), Uyyalawada, in Nagarkurnool district fell ill and were admitted to hospital after having dinner at the gurukul mess on Saturday.
Several more students were administered first-aid and kept under observation after complaints of vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach ache on Sunday. Reportedly, the students developed symptoms after consuming brinjal and potato prepared for dinner. The students’ parents were informed in the early hours on Sunday, leading to tense situation and protest over care and response in the gurukul.
According to the duty doctor at the Area Hospital in Nagarkurnool, six students showed serious symptoms and were recovering, and the rest of the students were kept under observation. Some of the admitted students were later discharged during the day. The district administration, taking the issue seriously, cancelled the food contractor’s service and directed an investigation.
Former Minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader T. Harish Rao called on the ill students at the hospital and spoke to their parents. Alleging negligence by the State government in addressing food quality in gurukuls, evident from the series of incidents recently, he urged the Telangana High Court and the State Human Rights Commission to take suo moto cognisance of the incident and direct the government with specific instructions.
