Food poisoning at Gadwal BC hostel

Over 50 students fell ill after dinner at the BC Boys Hostel in Dharmavaram village, Itikyala mandal of Jogulamba Gadwal district on Friday night. District Collector B.M. Santosh assured that all affected students received proper medical care and that strict measures are being taken to prevent such incidents in the future.

The Collector visited the Gadwal Government Hospital on Saturday morning to review the students’ health status and interacted with doctors and students. He advised them to return to the hostel only after full recovery and assured parents that the district administration is ensuring complete care for all affected students.

According to the Collector, out of 140 hostel students, 110 were present during dinner, and 54 fell sick after eating a curry made with cabbage and cauliflower. Ambulances were immediately dispatched to shift them to Gadwal Government Hospital, where officials monitored their condition throughout the night. By Saturday morning, 32 students were discharged, and the remaining 22 were expected to recover and return home by afternoon.

Food samples have been sent to the Food Inspector for testing, as contaminated eggs might also be the cause. The Collector warned that if negligence is confirmed, strict disciplinary action, including suspension, will follow.

He mentioned that surprise inspections are regularly conducted across hostels and that food committees have been set up to taste and approve meals before serving. Quality checks on vegetables and supplies are also being enforced, and poor-quality contractors face severe penalties.

Despite government orders for officials to stay overnight at hostels for direct supervision, lapses continue. Inadequate monitoring of sanitation, food quality, and supply standards remain major issues. Similar food poisoning incidents have occurred in Gadwal and other Telangana districts in the past, highlighting systemic negligence.

Political leaders reacted sharply- BJP members blamed poor hygiene in hostels, while BRS leaders cited administrative failure. The Collector reaffirmed that disciplinary action will be inevitable where negligence is proven.