Gurukul Food Poisoning: 28 Students Fall Ill in Kothagudem
- Gurukul food poisoning reported at Ekalavya Model Gurukul School
- Students shifted to hospitals after illness in Gundlapalli village
Hyderabad: A Gurukul food poisoning scare emerged in Kothagudem district after 28 students of a Gurukul school reportedly fell ill at Gundlapalli village in Dammapeta mandal. The village is the native place of Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao.
According to available information, the incident occurred at the Ekalavya Model Gurukul School in Gundlapalli. It was said that students had chicken for lunch on Wednesday. Later that night, several students complained of stomach pain and diarrhoea.
Meanwhile, the school authorities reportedly attempted to keep the matter under wraps. Instead of shifting the students to a hospital, they treated them within the school premises. The staff administered medicines inside the hostel rather than seeking outside medical care.
School response and conflicting claims about the illness
When media persons attempted to check on the condition of the students, the school staff did not allow them to enter the hostel premises. The school principal later responded to the incident and gave a different account.
The principal claimed that only 15 students fell ill. He also said the incident was not a case of food poisoning. According to him, the students suffered from indigestion caused by exam related stress.
However, the situation changed later. On Thursday night, the condition of a few students worsened. Therefore, authorities shifted them to the government hospital at Sathupalli in Khammam district. Meanwhile, a few students who were seriously ill were taken to a private hospital for treatment.
Later, MLA Jare Adinarayana reached the school during the night after receiving information about the incident. He visited the campus to assess the situation and review the condition of the students.
The MLA expressed anger at the school staff for keeping the incident secret despite the seriousness of the situation. He said that such matters should not be hidden, especially when students’ health is involved.
He also announced that a thorough inquiry would be conducted into the incident. According to him, authorities will take action against those responsible.
Officials said the condition of the students is now stable. Many of the affected students were later discharged from the hospital on Friday.
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