50 Students Fall Ill After Dinner at Karnataka Residential School; Principal Suspended
In a serious incident of food safety lapses, 50 students fell ill after consuming their evening meal at the Morarji Desai Residential School in Dandoti village, Chittapur taluk, Kalaburagi district, Karnataka, on Thursday evening.
The symptoms of acute food poisoning and severe indigestion appeared around 7:30 p.m., shortly after dinner, triggering panic among parents and prompting an immediate response from district authorities.
A team of senior officials, including the Deputy Commissioner, CEO of the Zilla Panchayat, Superintendent of Police, Inspector-General of Police, and District Health Officer, arrived at the school at 1 a.m. on Friday. They were joined by the Sedam Assistant Commissioner, Chittapur Tahsildar, and District Minority Welfare Officer to oversee emergency medical care.
Of the 50 students examined by doctors, 39 required hospitalisation. They were later discharged after making a full recovery.
Initial investigations pointed to a severe lack of quality control in the school kitchen. Home Minister Priyank Kharge, who represents the Chittapur constituency, stated that preliminary findings indicate the rice served for dinner was undercooked, which led to widespread indigestion.
Kharge emphasised that he is in constant contact with the district administration and warned of strict disciplinary action against anyone found negligent once a comprehensive enquiry report is submitted. He also directed senior officials to conduct stringent inspections across all state hostels to ensure food quality.
Taking immediate administrative responsibility, the Department of Minority Welfare suspended the school principal and the hostel warden. The department also initiated steps to terminate the contract of outsourced kitchen staff and replace them with trained, reliable personnel.
The district administration appealed to the public and anxious parents to ignore unverified rumours, assuring them that the welfare of the students remains the top priority.
This incident highlights systemic issues in food safety protocols at residential schools, especially those catering to underprivileged students. Authorities have promised a thorough inquiry and preventive measures.
