15 Eklavya Gurukul Students Hospitalised, Food Poisoning Suspected

Tirupati: Around 15 students of Eklavya Adarsh Gurukul Patasala in Ozili were hospitalised on Thursday morning with complaints of stomach ache, diarrhea and vomiting, suspected to have been caused by food poisoning. The school is run in collaboration with the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA).

According to sources, the affected students developed symptoms after having dinner at the hostel mess on Wednesday.

The school staff rushed them to the area hospital in Ozili on Thursday morning. By evening, all 15 students were discharged as their condition had stabilised, hospital sources said.

However, reports stated that the students faced inconvenience at the hospital due to lack of beds. Photos circulating on social media showed 2-3 students sharing single beds during treatment. Repeated attempts to contact Tirupati district medical and health officer (DMHO) Dr. U. Sri Hari went in vain.

The cause of food poisoning is yet to be ascertained. Sources said that the authorities have launched an investigation to determine if there were lapses in hygiene and food handling at the hostel mess that had led to this incident.