On 31 October, 64 students fell ill at the Tribal Welfare Residential School in Wankidi due to food poisoning. Following dinner on 30 October, students complained of stomach aches over the next two days.
Published Nov 26, 2024 | 8:43 AM ⚊ Updated Nov 26, 2024 | 8:43 AM
Shailaja was a 9th standard student.
Tragedy struck in Hyderabad as 16-year-old Shailaja passed away from food poisoning on Monday, 25 November. She was among the 64 students who were affected by food poisoning in a government-run Gurukul hostel in Wankidi Mandal of Kumaram Bheem Asifabad district of Telangana.
On 31 October, 64 students fell ill at the Tribal Welfare Residential School in Wankidi due to food poisoning. Following dinner on 30 October, students complained of stomach aches over the next two days.
While they were initially moved to the Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Wankidi, they were soon taken to the CHC in Asifabad.
Despite a majority of the students recovering shortly after, at least four students feel critically ill. These students were moved to a hospital in Mancherial and then to Hyderabad’s Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS).
At NIMS the students who were critically ill were visited by politicians, including Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar Reddy, Tribal Welfare Minister Dansari Seethakka, and Siddipet MLA Harish Rao.
Three students were recently discharged while Shailaja was still under treatment. BRS MLC K Kavitha visited the critically ill Shailaja on 24 November.
Shailaja. a student of Class 9, was among the four students who became critically ill after the food poisoning.
On 5 November, she was moved to NIMS from a private hospital in Mancherial. She was reportedly moved as her condition worsened, suffering from diarrhoea.
She had to undergo dialysis and was on ventilator support following kidney and lung issues. On 11 November, her condition further worsened and was on ventilator support till her death on 25 November.
Speaking to the media Shailaja’s distraught mother was seen in tears, mourning the death of her daughter in Lambadi.
The family is set to transport young Shailaja’s mortal remains back to Dhaba village in Wankidi Mandal on Tuesday for the final rights.
Meanwhile, BRS leader Harish Rao demanded the government pay an ex-gratia of ₹50 lakhs to the kin of Shailaja. Calling her a victim of negligence, he said serving poor-quality food to students was a sin.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
