What Caused Over 100 Students to Fall Ill at MS University Hostel?

Vadodara, July 9 (NationPress) A troubling incident of food poisoning has caused alarm at Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU) in Gujarat's Vadodara, where over 100 female students from the SD Hall hostel fell ill after consuming dinner from the mess. The event took place late Tuesday night, with students reporting sudden symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, and intense stomach pain shortly after their evening meal.

Among the approximately 350 students who had dinner at the mess, over 100 displayed signs of a foodborne illness and were quickly transported to Gotri and Sayaji hospitals for care.

Hospital reports indicate that the students are currently stable; however, the scale of the outbreak has raised significant concerns regarding hygiene and food safety standards in university hostels. The affected individuals remain under medical observation, with doctors diagnosing the situation as acute food poisoning, likely due to contaminated or stale food.

Medical experts highlight that food poisoning is often the result of bacteria or viruses entering the body through improperly prepared or spoiled food. These pathogens can severely disrupt the digestive system.

This incident is not the first time students have voiced concerns over the quality of food served in hostel messes.

Many students had previously complained about poor hygiene and stale food to hostel management, only to have their worries dismissed. “We’ve been consuming substandard meals for months. We raised our voices multiple times, but nothing changed. This incident was inevitable,” stated a third-year student currently receiving treatment.

In response to the crisis, the MSU Vice Chancellor and Chief Warden visited Sayaji Hospital to meet with the students and assess the situation.

Senior police officials have also arrived at both the hostel and the hospital to evaluate the circumstances.

Additionally, health officials have gathered food samples from the mess for further laboratory analysis. An investigation is likely to be initiated to determine the root cause and assign blame.

Doctors treating the affected students have stressed the need for early recognition and hydration in cases of food poisoning. Symptoms often surface within hours after eating contaminated food, manifesting as nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhoea, vomiting, fatigue, and occasionally fever. Food poisoning can become particularly perilous if dehydration occurs, making it essential to provide fluids like coconut water, lemon water, oral rehydration salts, or glucose solutions.

For mild cases, traditional remedies such as bananas (to replenish potassium), curd with roasted cumin, ginger water, and mint can alleviate discomfort. However, patients are advised to avoid milk, meat, and heavy foods during recovery.

As the extent of the outbreak becomes clear, students and parents are calling for decisive action against those responsible for the negligence.