Food poisoning hits 12 students at SC hostel in Gadwal

Incidents of food poisoning continue to plague government-run gurukulas and welfare hostels across the state, raising serious concerns about student safety. In a recent episode, about 12 students fell ill after having breakfast at the ST Welfare Hostel in Gadwal district. The affected students were rushed to the local government hospital for treatment after experiencing vomiting and discomfort.

Critics say the state government has repeatedly failed to provide students with safe and hygienic meals, maintain proper cleanliness, and offer mental health support when needed. Calls are growing for immediate action to prevent such incidents from recurring, including stricter monitoring of hostel operations and availability of counseling services for students.

Kalvakuntla Kavitha, speaking through her official platform, criticized the Congress government for neglecting the safety of children from underprivileged backgrounds. She highlighted that even though the Education Department is directly under the Chief Minister, repeated food safety lapses in gurukulas and hostels are shameful. According to her, officials often appear only after incidents occur, conducting inspections as a formality, while long-term preventive measures remain lacking.

This is not the first time students in Gadwal have suffered from unsafe meals. Earlier, 54 students at a BC boys’ hostel in Itikyala Mandal’s Dharmavaram village fell ill after consuming meals. In 2015, students at Gadwal Polytechnic also experienced food poisoning following breakfast. Similar incidents have been reported across Telangana in government hostels, tribal schools, and BC Welfare Hostels due to poor adherence to food safety standards.

The recurring nature of these incidents underscores the urgent need for stringent food safety measures and continuous monitoring in government-run student accommodations.