65 KGBV students fall ill in Vizag Agency, food poisoning suspected

As many as 65 girl students from Paderu in Vizag were hospitalised on Monday night. The girls have been identified as the students of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV). According to Andhra Pradesh Tribal Welfare Department officials, the Vizag students allegedly fell sick due food poisoning.

In an exclusive conversation with Yo! Vizag, an official from the AP Tribal Welfare Department who was present at the scene, shared further details about the incident. The Tribal Welfare Department official said, “There are about 284 students studying in KGBV school. Out of them around the affected 65 students had their dinner in the first round in the school on 22 November night. About 15 minutes after consuming dinner, they suffered from bouts of vomiting and stomach ache. A couple of them fell unconscious too. After seeing their condition, others did not have dinner.”

She further said that the school staff immediately acted upon the situation. “The affected girls were shifted to District Hospital, Paderu in ambulances and private vehicles by the school authority. We met the students and extended our support as well,” the bureaucrat added.

The doctors provided necessary treatment including intravenous fluids. Within one hour, the health condition of all the girls became stable. Reportedly, they were kept under observation until Tuesday afternoon at the hospital.

In wake of the incident, students informed that it might have been caused due to the unhygienic condition of water tank. However, the Vizag school staff reported that it could be a case of food poisoning. To investigate the case further, the samples of food as well as water have been collected for further study. A comprehensive lab test will be done on each one of them. The reports are awaited.