NEW DELHI: Around 50 female students from the Puranmal Lahoti Government Polytechnic in Latur suffered suspected food poisoning after dinner at their hostel on Saturday evening. The hostel accommodates 324 students.
The students had rice, chapattis, okra curry, and lentil soup for dinner at around 7pm. By 8.30pm, many felt nauseous and some started vomiting.
The college principal quickly informed Dr. Uday Mohite, dean of Vilasrao Deshmukh Government Medical College and Hospital. Affected students were taken to the hospital in ambulances. Nearly 50 students were admitted by midnight, with 20 discharged by 3 am on Sunday. Thirty remained in the hospital for treatment, none critical.
Dr. Mohite stated, “Two girls experienced vomiting after dinner, and others complained of nausea, following which they were admitted to the hospital. Immediate treatment, including administering saline where required, is undergoing. All the girls are in stable condition, and the entire medical team is present and providing care.”
Parents have been reassured about their children’s safety. College principal VD Nitnaware stated, “Upon receiving reports of some hostel students being unwell, we reached there immediately. All the affected students were sent for treatment. A thorough health check-up is being conducted to ensure no further risk to any student. There is no cause for concern. Some girls are kept in the hospital to help the affected students.”
Shivajinagar police were notified, collected food samples, and are investigating the cause of the food poisoning. Latur’s Lok Sabha member, Shivaji Kalge, visited the hospital to check on the students and urged Latur Collector Varsha Thakur Ghuge to take action against those responsible.