Food poisoning hits Gadwal hostel, 86 students hospitalized.
After dinner at a BC hostel in Gadwal, 86 students fell ill, with officials suspecting food contamination as cause.
A quiet evening at a BC hostel in Dharmavaram village of Erravalli mandal, Jogulamba Gadwal district, Telangana, turned alarming on Friday night, October 31, after 86 students fell ill following dinner. What began as a regular meal quickly spiraled into a night of panic and confusion, as one by one, students began complaining of nausea and stomach pain. Within minutes, several of them started vomiting, sending shockwaves through the hostel.
The hostel, which houses 125 students, had 110 present that evening. According to staff members, dinner was served around 8 p.m. and initially appeared normal. But by 9 p.m., the symptoms had begun. “At first, a few students said they felt uneasy,” said one warden. “But soon, more and more of them started falling sick. We immediately knew something was wrong.”
As word spread, hostel staff sprang into action. With the help of local residents and police, they arranged vehicles and ambulances to take the affected students to Gadwal Area Hospital. The scene at the hostel was chaotic — worried children clutching their stomachs, anxious wardens trying to calm them, and frightened parents rushing in after hearing the news.
Doctors at Gadwal Area Hospital worked through the night to stabilize the students. “They were brought in with symptoms of food poisoning such as vomiting, abdominal pain, and dizziness,” said one of the attending physicians. “Fortunately, most of them responded well to treatment, and all are now recovering under observation.” Hospital authorities confirmed that none of the students are in critical condition, providing relief to the community that had gathered outside through the night.
Officials suspect the cause to be food contamination, though the exact source is still under investigation. Samples of the food served at the hostel have been collected and sent for laboratory testing. District officials have also ordered an inquiry into the food preparation and storage process at the hostel. “We will take strict action if negligence is found,” said a district education officer. “The safety of our children is non-negotiable.”
By Saturday morning, the situation was under control, and most students were reported to be in stable condition. Parents who had rushed from nearby villages breathed a sigh of relief as doctors reassured them their children were out of danger.
For now, the focus remains on recovery and ensuring such an incident does not repeat. But for the young students of Dharmavaram, the night of October 31 will remain etched in memory — a frightening reminder of how fragile safety can sometimes be.