Harish Rao slams Congress govt over spate of food poisoning cases in Gurukul schools

T Harish Rao criticised the Congress government for repeated food poisoning incidents in Gurukul schools and blamed CM Revanth Reddy for negligence. He cited over 100 student deaths in 20 months and demanded urgent intervention to safeguard students.

Hyderabad: Former Minister and senior BRS MLA T Harish Rao came down heavily on the Congress government for the recurring food poisoning incidents in Gurukul schools across the State. He demanded immediate government intervention to restore safety and public trust in government-run residential schools.

In the past 48 hours, four separate food poisoning cases were reported — at Nagalgidda Model School in Narayankhed mandal of Sangareddy district, Pedda Kothapalli Gurukul school in Nagarkurnool, Lakshmipur Gurukul school in Jagtial district, and Bhadrachalam Gurukul College in Bhadradri Kothagudem district. Dozens of students were hospitalised in all these cases.

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In a statement, Harish Rao held Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy responsible for what he called the systematic breakdown of residential welfare educational institutions due to administrative failure and lack of oversight. He accused the Congress government of letting down Dalit, tribal, backward class and minority students who rely on these schools.

“Revanth Reddy, who vowed to monitor Gurukul schools personally, is busy with his Delhi visits, while students continue to suffer,” he said. Harish Rao also alleged that more than 100 Gurukul students have died in the past 20 months due to snakebites, suicides, and food poisoning.