As many as 127 students of Kerala University, two wardens and two
cooks were taken to hospital following food poisoning late on Tuesday
night, shortly after they had dinner at the mess of the Ladies’ Hostel
on Kariavattom campus.
According to students, after having food at
the mess, many started complaining of stomach ache, nausea and
giddiness. They were rushed to the hospital in as many as 30 ambulances
by the police, university staff and students. However, after primary
medication, all the students are now in a stable condition, except
seven, police officials said.
Some students were admitted to the
hospital around 10 pm, while others were rushed in later. Most of them
have recovered. The affected students, from the University Hostel,
blamed improperly cooked food for the problem. The students said that
they had complained to the in-charge of the mess about the poor quality
of food while having dinner itself, around 7.30 pm. Within minutes, many
developed stomach problems and started vomiting.
Usage of
contaminated water for preparation of food or the entry of some foreign
bodies is suspected to have caused the food poisoning.
The hostel
was shifted to a new building only two weeks ago. According to the
students, the mess was not being run in hygienic conditions.
Sreekariyam
sub-inspector of police V Rajesh Kumar said Food Safety Authority
officials have collected the samples of food and water. “As the students
reported abdominal pain, the reason might be the entry of some foreign
body,” he said.
Meanwhile, the District Medical Officer (DMO),
along with other medical officers and food inspectors, inspected the
Ladies’ Hostel mess and collected samples of rice, curries, tamarind,
cooking oil, cud and drinking water and sent them for analysis to the
Food Laboratory. They also said that the unhygienic condition of the
kitchen and the low quality of the items used for cooking were the
reasons for the food poisoning.
The police officials said a
notice will be sent to the Kerala University regarding the issue and
that a detailed inquiry would be conducted into the issue.
The hostel kitchen, meanwhile, has been sealed by officials
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