18 girl students fall sick after breakfast at private college hostel in Balasore

As many as 18 girl students of a private residential college in Balasore fell sick reportedly after consuming breakfast in their hostel on Wednesday morning.

As per reports, while some of the girls vomited after taking the food, some others experienced loose motion as well.

Following the illness they were rushed to the Balasore District Headquarters Hospital for treatment. While three students were discharged from the hospital after first aid treatment, 15 others are still in the hospital.

However, their health condition is stated to be stable.

Associate Professor of Medicine, Pradeep Padhi said, “They ate puffed rice and some other curry in the breakfast following which they experienced lose motion and some of them also vomited.”

“All the 18 students came to the hospital at around 11am. They are clinically stable now. In fact, three of them have already left the hospital. Rest 15 students are in hospital and they will be released soon,” he added.

The breakfast was reportedly provided by the hostel authorities.

Earlier in February 2023, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had sought action taken reports from the state government on the allegations of food poisoning in a Kanyashram in Balasore district wherein one minor girl student had died, and more than 25 students fell sick due to consumption of contaminated food.

The Commission passed the direction on March 7 after hearing a petition filed by a human rights activist. The petitioner alleged that the students, who live in Purubai Kanyashram at Soro in Balasore district, suffered immensely due to the consumption of contaminated food.