Surat: Around 100 students staying at the P P Savani hostel in Abrama fell ill after dinner on Saturday night, prompting the health department to launch an investigation into a suspected case of food poisoning.Around 2,200 students and hostel staff had dinner at about 7pm. Several students began complaining of vomiting and abdominal pain around 11.30pm and were rushed to the P P Savani Hospital in Kapodra.The hostel houses around 2,200 students studying at various schools run by the P P Savani Group. On Saturday evening, the students were served paneer-mutter, roti, fried rice and buttermilk for dinner.As the number of students reporting food poisoning symptoms increased, school buses were used to take them to the hospital. According to a statement issued by the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC), around 85 students complained of vomiting. Of these, 73 were treated on an outpatient basis, while 12 were admitted to the hospital.Of the 12 admitted students, nine were girls and three were boys, all aged between 15 and 17 years. Four were discharged on Sunday, while the remaining eight were undergoing treatment.The SMC’s food department collected six food samples from the hostel and issued a notice to the hostel authorities over alleged negligence. A mobile medical van was also deployed at the site to provide medical assistance to the students.However, hostel authorities said the illness may have been caused by factors other than the food served at dinner.“Around 2,000 people had dinner at the hostel, but only around 100 complained of illness. We have learnt that some students had consumed prasad during a Ganpati event, which could have contributed to the incident,” an official of the P P Savani Group said.Minister orders probeHealth minister Praful Pansheriya has ordered an investigation into hostel kitchens across the state.“A team from the health department was sent to the hostel soon after the incident was reported. Officials collected samples of food, water and other materials from the hostel kitchen for examination. The investigation will establish whether food poisoning was responsible for the students falling ill or whether another factor caused the illness,” Pansheriya said. He added that the inspections would focus on kitchen hygiene, the quality of food ingredients, cleanliness and compliance with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) prescribed by the state govt.Pansheriya said negligence concerning the health and safety of students would not be tolerated. Institutions found violating the prescribed SOPs would face legal action, he added.
