"food-poisoning"

The High Court criticizes state government for inaction on recurring food poisoning at Maganur Zilla Parishad High School, questioning intervention only after court orders, despite worm-infested food concerns.

The Telangana High Court has taken serious note of the students taking ill due to suspected food poisoning at government-run schools and directed that samples from mid-day meals be collected from all such schools for lab analysis.

BRS condemned the Congress government over its gross negligence in addressing the alarming spate of deaths of 48 students in Gurukul schools.

Last Wednesday, over 50 students had fallen ill after consuming worm-infested food served at the school.

Out of 205 students, 180 had the mid-day meals provided in the school. Of thes, 18 students had vomiting and stomach pain. DEO Janardhan Rao claimed that this was because none of the 18 students had breakfast that day.

"While children suffer in ambulances, the Chief Minister indulges in helicopter rides and lavish meals. While students struggle for quality food, the Chief Minister is busy gathering moneybags," he said.

In a video going viral on social media platforms, when the cooks point out worms in rice, the officials, in reply say that "when the rice will be washed twice, the worms will vanish"

There have been quite a few incidents of students getting hospitalised after consuming the food served to them in schools. These apart, there have also been occasions, when students staged protests demanding quality food and ingredients, rice, vegetables and others used for cooking the food.

After Wednesday's incident, many students stayed away from school. With the previous agency's contract terminated, a new agency was brought in to prepare food. However, when the meal was served, students discovered worms in the rice. Teachers were immediately alerted and discarded the contaminated rice. Fresh rice was quickly arranged, and bananas were distributed to the students as a stopgap. By 3:45 PM, lunch was finally served.

Though the hospital management tried to cover up the issue, the news soon came out. When a few BRS leaders tried to visit the students at the hospital, the police tried to stop them and arguments took place between them.

MEO Muralidhar Reddy and Mess Incharge M Bap Reddy have been placed under suspension by the School Education Director EV Narasimha Reddy

The department also terminated the services of the mid-day meal agency for its negligence of duty in providing mid-day meals in the school.

He directed the District Collector to enquire about the incident and fix responsibility on the persons responsible for it

“Under this government, children are fighting for their lives in hospitals instead of studying in classrooms. How many more lives will it take for the Revanth Reddy government to act?” he asked.

In yet another case of food poisoning in government-run schools in the State, about 30 students of the Zilla Parishad High School in Maganoor mandal fell ill after consuming mid-day meals in the school in the afternoon on Wednesday.

A large number of students who gathered near the college gate, brought with them a charred vessel of burnt food that caused food poisoning. They raised slogans demanding justice and better food services in the hostel.

The 23-year-old has been admitted to a hospital with severe vomiting, diarrhea and fever

Action was initiated against the five staffers based on findings of a report submitted by a committee formed by Collector Venkatesh Dothre

They were immediately admitted to a hospital. Their condition was learnt to be stable. The other students and parents expressed concern over food served at the hostel.

Madhav was placed under suspension holding him responsible for the food poisoning.