Food Poisoning In NMIMS Telangana, Over 50 Students Affected; Campus Response Under Scrutiny

In a shocking incident at the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) in Jadcherla, Telangana, over 50 students fell ill due to suspected food poisoning. The incident, which occurred on Thursday, has raised serious concerns about food safety and emergency response on the campus.

The students began exhibiting symptoms of nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and fever shortly after consuming food from the campus canteen. In an attempt to manage the situation, the varsity administration arranged for private doctors to treat the affected students on the premises and makeshift medical facilities were set up in common rooms and the library.

However, the administration’s response was met with criticism. The students alleged that the management was trying to suppress the incident and shield those responsible.

Campus Crisis: Allegations and MLA’s Intervention

The students claimed that the administration’s failure extended beyond the provision of safe and hygienic food, pointing out the lack of emergency medical transportation. No ambulances were arranged for students requiring urgent care, exacerbating the crisis.

The situation escalated when Jadcherla MLA P. Anirudh Reddy visited the NMIMS campus. Expressing shock at the lack of proper medical infrastructure, Reddy confronted university officials and questioned the qualifications of the doctors attending to the students.

Reddy demanded immediate action, stating, “You are only trying to protect the university. Protect the children. Shift them to hospitals immediately.” Following Reddy’s intervention, around 15-20 affected students were transferred to hospitals in Mahabubnagar and Hyderabad for specialized treatment.

However, the students’ ordeal didn’t end there. They voiced longstanding complaints about poor food hygiene in the campus canteen, citing low-quality groceries, vegetables, and cooking oil used in the preparation of meals.

Longstanding Complaints and Media Intervention

The students claimed that despite several representations over the poor quality of food and drinking water provided to them, the college administration had been acting with negligence. They alleged that the mess in charge had consistently denied all their allegations, leading to a situation that could have been avoided with timely action.

The incident at NMIMS is not an isolated one. It brings to light the larger issue of food safety and hygiene in educational institutions. In the past, similar incidents have occurred in various parts of the country, underscoring the need for stringent food safety measures and emergency response systems on campuses.

The university administration, which also tried to prevent the media from entering the campus to report the incident, was compelled to let them in after they protested. This incident has not only exposed the administration’s negligence but also highlighted the importance of media in bringing such issues to light.