Latur hostel inmates fall ill to food poisoning

Aurangabad

: As many as 349 students living in a hostel of the social justice department in Latur were admitted to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) on Sunday evening and Monday morning after they complained of abdomen pain, nausea, vomiting and giddiness.

Hospital authorities said the condition of all students was stable and a majority of them have been discharged. The hospital authorities suspect food poisoning to be the cause of the illness and have sent samples of gastric lavage of the victims to forensic laboratory for further testing.

The Latur police arrested four persons, including two contractors hired to supply meals to the hotel, based on a complaint filed by the social welfare department. The two other persons arrested are cooks.

Latur GMCH medical superintendent Shailendra Chauhan said 72 girls and 277 boys were admitted to the hospital on Sunday evening after they complained of abdomen pain, nausea, vomiting and giddiness.

“Only eight students were kept under observation till Monday. Among them, two students showed different complaints such as severe anaemia and fatigue giddiness. The remaining were vomiting excessively. On Monday, they were responding to the treatment and showing signs of recovery,” he explained.

Some students said the food served at the hostel was of sub-standard quality and many times, the oil is re-used for preparation of meals. The unhygienic conditions at the hostel add to the problems.

L I Waghmare, Latur regional deputy commissioner of social welfare department, said they have ordered an inquiry to test the quality of raw material supplied by the contractor. “The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has collected samples of raw material for testing. We have also urged the Latur police to conduct an inquiry into the incident,” he said.

M M Ingewad, investigating officer, said they had arrested two contractors and two cooks on Monday after receiving the complaint from the social welfare department.