Over 45 students fall ill after hostel meal in Kalaburagi

Kalaburagi: More than 45 students of a Morarji Desai Minority Residential Hostel in Dandoti village, Karnataka’s Kalaburagi district, fell ill after consuming a hostel meal, prompting authorities to launch an inquiry on Friday.

According to preliminary reports, the students began vomiting soon after eating rice and sambar served on Thursday night. Officials suspect contaminated drinking water or poor-quality food as possible causes, though the exact reason is yet to be confirmed. The hostel houses students from Classes 6 to 10.

The affected students were first taken to the Primary Health Centre in Dandoti, where they received initial treatment. As several required further medical care, more than 35 were shifted to the Taluk Hospital in Chittapur. Parents rushed to the hostel after learning their children had fallen ill.

Officials are also probing allegations that students had been drinking water supplied by a contaminated tanker, which may have contributed to the incident. Minority Welfare Department District Officer Sangamesh visited the hostel and hospital to review the situation and monitor the students’ treatment.

Authorities said the condition of the students is stable, with Tehsildar Nagayya Hiremath noting that their health has shown improvement. An investigation has been launched to determine whether the illness was caused by unsafe food, contaminated water, or both, and samples of food and water are expected to be sent for laboratory tests.

The incident comes a day after 11 students of a private residential school in Bengaluru were hospitalised on Thursday following suspected food poisoning. The students of Ambedkar Residential School in Basavanapura, in Bengaluru South district, reportedly complained of severe stomach pain after eating rice and a leafy vegetable curry served for dinner. They were taken to a district hospital, where they are undergoing treatment.

(Inputs from IANS)