JUST IN: 16 Students Hospitalized Over Alleged Food Poisoning

A distressing incident has spotlighted major concerns regarding the safety and quality of food services in Telangana’s residential schools after approximately 60 students from two different government-run institutions fell severely ill due to suspected Food Poisoning. While around 60 students were affected, the most critical cases involved 16 students who required immediate hospitalization. This major health crisis occurred in schools operating under the Telangana Minorities Residential Educational Institutions Society (TMREIS), triggering widespread alarm and fierce political condemnation.

The affected students were drawn from two separate residential schools:

1. TMREIS Residential School at Pileru, located in the Hanumakonda district.
2. TMREIS Residential School at Kondapak, situated in the Siddipet district.

The students exhibited classic symptoms of food poisoning, including severe vomiting, abdominal pain, and dehydration, shortly after consuming meals provided by the school mess. While the affected students were initially treated at the school premises, 16 students whose conditions were deemed serious required immediate transfer to nearby hospitals for intensive medical care. Authorities confirmed that the students are now receiving necessary treatment and their health status is being closely monitored.

The incident immediately ignited a political firestorm, with opposition parties seizing on the crisis to criticize the state government’s failure to ensure basic safety standards in educational institutions.

READ ALSO:Security Forces Thwart Attack on Borno Military Facility, Terrorists Killed

Prominent BRS leader, Harish Rao, launched a scathing attack on the ruling Congress party, directly linking the lapses in food safety to the government’s policy focus. Rao criticized the Congress government’s priority, stating the incident suggested the ruling party was offering “Poison 2047” to students instead of delivering on its promised “Vision 2047” for the state.

Rao further slammed the Congress administration for their alleged negligence, noting that similar food poisoning incidents were becoming a concerning pattern under the current government. He specifically highlighted that such deplorable conditions and food safety lapses were not prevalent during the previous administration, suggesting a deterioration of standards under the current political leadership.

The crisis has led to widespread demands for immediate and transparent action. Parents and opposition leaders have called for a comprehensive inquiry into the incident to identify the source of the contamination, whether it was due to substandard ingredients, poor hygiene in the mess, or negligent preparation. They are demanding immediate steps to overhaul the food quality and monitoring system within all TMREIS schools to prevent any recurrence of such dangerous health hazards.