Around 140 students from the City Nursing Hospital and College located in Mangaluru, India fell ill and had to be hospitalized in a suspected case of food poisoning.
The students had consumed chicken kebab and ghee rice at their hostels on Sunday evening, and later in the early hours of Monday, several students reported feeling sick and were admitted to multiple hospitals in the city. The health officials suspect that the cause of the illness is food poisoning.
According to police reports, around 113 students are currently being treated at various hospitals across the city, 42 students are being treated at AJ Hospital in the city, 18 at KMC hospital, 14 at Unity Hospital, 28 at Kankanadi Father Muller Hospital, eight at City Hospital and three at Mangala Hospital
The medical team also collected samples of meat stored in deep freezers and instructed the hostel authorities not to prepare any food until further instructions are given.
The police have registered an FIR against the management of the college in connection with the incident.
Confirming the Incident, N Shashi Kumar, Police Commissioner of Mangaluru city, said, “The incident came to the fore on Monday night as more than 300 people had gathered in front of the city hospital. More than 100 students were admitted to various hospitals in the city. A few were discharged after availing treatment”.
M R Ravi Kumar, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner, said, “The number of students being admitted to the hospitals increased after 9 pm since Monday. At present, 113 students are being treated at various hospitals in the city.”
“An ambulance was sent to the hostel immediately after the number of patients increased. A team of officers comprising the district food safety officer, district surveillance officer and district training centre inspected all three hostels where 231 students are staying. All of them are studying in the City Group of Institutions,” he said.
“We also spoke with the students admitted in hospitals. We have submitted a preliminary report,” he added.
Dr Rajesh, District Health Officer, said, “After consuming dinner in the night, many students complained of stomach ache and vomiting around 2 am on Monday and were admitted to hospitals. Many discharged after treatment.”
The medical team also collected samples of meat kept in the deep freezer, he said, adding that the medical team instructed hostel authorities to not prepare food in the kitchen till further instructions from the department.
“All the students are stated to be out of danger and most of them will be discharged by Tuesday evening,” Dr Rajesh further said.
The complaint was made by the district surveillance officer Dr Jagadish, who stated that the college management served poisonous food, neglected cleanliness in the preparation and supply of food, and also in the admission of students to the hospital.
Additionally, the complaint stated that the appropriate information had not been reported to the district administration. The police registered the case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 176 (omission to inform government), 328 (providing intoxicant knowingly hurts others), and 337 (hurting others due to negligence).