In a disturbing incident that has raised serious concerns about food safety in educational institutions, more than 50 students from a residential school in Telangana's Gadwal district were rushed to hospitals after consuming dinner on Tuesday night.
The affected students, all residents of the Social Welfare Residential School in Gundugollu village, began showing severe symptoms of food poisoning shortly after their evening meal. What started as isolated complaints quickly escalated into a full-blown medical emergency.
Rapid Deterioration and Emergency Response
According to local health officials, students started experiencing intense vomiting, acute diarrhea, and severe stomach cramps within hours of eating dinner. The situation deteriorated so rapidly that school authorities had to organize emergency transportation to multiple medical facilities.
"The students were immediately shifted to the nearby Area Hospital and a private hospital in Gadwal for treatment," confirmed a district health officer. "Our medical teams are working round the clock to stabilize their condition."
Contaminated Food Suspected as Primary Cause
Preliminary investigations strongly point toward food contamination as the root cause of this mass poisoning incident. Health department teams have collected food samples from the school's kitchen for laboratory analysis to identify the specific contaminant.
"The symptoms are classic food poisoning indicators," explained a senior medical officer at Gadwal Area Hospital. "We're treating them with intravenous fluids, antibiotics, and medications to control vomiting and dehydration."
Authorities Launch Comprehensive Investigation
District Collector Salomi flagged the seriousness of the situation and ordered a thorough probe into the incident. Education department officials have been directed to inspect food preparation and storage facilities at all residential schools in the district.
The investigation will focus on:
- Food quality and sourcing standards
- Kitchen hygiene and sanitation practices
- Food handler training and certification
- Water quality and storage conditions
Growing Concerns Over Institutional Food Safety
This incident has reignited concerns about food safety standards in residential educational institutions across Telangana. Previous similar incidents in other districts had already put authorities on alert about potential lapses in food quality control.
Parents of affected students have demanded strict action against those responsible for the food poisoning outbreak. Many have expressed anger over the repeated failures in ensuring basic food safety standards in government-run residential schools.
As medical teams continue to monitor the hospitalized students, education officials have promised transparent investigation and stringent measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents in the future.
