A surge in food poisoning cases across Telangana’s government schools, hostels, and mid-day meal programs has raised serious concerns over food safety and hygiene, with multiple incidents in recent months resulting in student hospitalisations and public outrage
Published Nov 27, 2024 | 9:06 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 27, 2024 | 9:06 PM
Hospitalised students in Telangana were reportedly served worm-infested breakfast
A rising wave of food poisoning incidents across Telangana’s government schools, residential hostels, and mid-day meal schemes has put the state’s educational institutions in the spotlight, with concerns mounting over food safety and hygiene.
Several incidents in the past few months have left students hospitalised and sparked public outrage.
On July 10, a lizard was found in upma served to students at the Telangana Model School in Ramayampet, Medak district. Some students were rushed to the hospital after suffering from adverse symptoms. In Medak’s SC/ST Hostel, several students fell ill due to insect-contaminated rice.
On 5 August, 16 girls at the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) in Nagarkurnool fell ill after consuming lunch in the school hostel.
On 7 August, over 40 boys from a minority English medium school in Jadcherla were hospitalised after suffering from stomach pain and vomiting, suspected to be food poisoning.
The issue of food safety was also raised earlier in September, when 216 girls out of 470 at an ashram in Nagarkurnool showed symptoms of food poisoning after consuming their midday meals.
A similar incident occurred in Bheemgal, Nizamabad, on 13 September, when 103 students at a residential school fell ill after eating.
On 3 August, 2024, students from Kasturba Gandhi Girls School in Nacharam, under the Chief Minister’s Kodangal constituency, protested over the poor quality of food served in their hostel.
The students alleged that worms were often found in rice and curries. On the same day, 20 students from the Model School in Veldanda Mandal, Nagarkurnool, were hospitalized for food poisoning. Students reported that the food served was half-cooked and contaminated with worms.
The food safety crisis continued with a disturbing incident on 23 September, when the mid-day meal storeroom at the Primary and Zilla Parishad School in Kommuru village, under Gundamal Mandal, was found to be infested with worms.
About 15 students of the ZP High School in Narayanpet, Telangana were admitted to the Mahbubnagar Government Hospital on the night of Wednesday, 20 November after showing symptoms of food poisoning. Hospital administration and officials were in hot water, after reports that breakfast served to some students in the morning of Thursday, 21 November, contained worms.
After students – including boys and girls ranging from Class 6 to 10 – complained of severe stomach pain and vomiting, they were rushed to a hospital in Maganoor for first aid.
22 students from Maganoor ZP High School in Narayanpet complained of nausea, dizziness, and stomach aches after consuming school-provided lunch on 27 November, a week after students from the school fell sick in a similar manner.
The district collector investigated and claimed that the cause was outside snacks and not the midday meals.
16-year-old Shailaja passed away from food poisoning on 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 these repeated incidents, which have resulted in widespread concern and health risks for students, government action remains inadequate.
KT Rama Rao, working president of BRS party, slammed the Congress-led state government for neglecting the welfare of Gurukul students, criticising the government’s focus on “political gains” instead of addressing the crisis in schools.
నవంబర్ 30 నుంచి డిసెంబర్ 7 వరకు రాష్ట్రవ్యాప్తంగా బీఆర్ఎస్ గురుకుల బాట కార్యక్రమం
– బీఆర్ఎస్ వర్కింగ్ ప్రెసిడెంట్ @KTRBRSగురుకుల బాట కార్యక్రమంలో భాగంగా గురుకులాలు, కేజీబీవీలు, మోడల్ స్కూల్స్, ప్రభుత్వ రెసిడెన్షియల్ పాఠశాలలు, కాలేజీలను పరిశీలించనున్న భారత రాష్ట్ర సమితి… pic.twitter.com/95Of0pcQ6O
— BRS Party (@BRSparty) November 27, 2024
In response to the rising number of food poisoning cases, the Telangana High Court issued a strong directive to the state government, instructing it to submit a detailed report on actions taken against those responsible.
The court’s intervention comes after several deaths and illnesses in state-run schools and hostels due to poor food quality.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
