VIJAYAWADA: Seven more students of AP Social Welfare Residential Girls Degree College were hospitalised allegedly due to food poisoning on Tuesday. With this, the number of students who fell sick by food poisoning reached 30. Initially, 15 girl students, who complained of vomiting and stomach pains, were hospitalised on Monday evening. Later, eight more, with similar symptoms, were taken to the New Government General Hospital (GGH). The seven sick girls admitted on Tuesday were identified as Jayalakshmi, Divya, Mariyamma, Roshamma, Gowthami, Vasundhara and Anandha Kumari.
Their health condition was stable and they would be discharged on Wednesday, GGH doctors informed.
The students of the institution said that they had eaten chicken curry for lunch on Sunday during the golden jubilee celebrations of Government College Teachers Association. The leftover curry was taken to their hostel, which was served for dinner on the same night.According to sources, the institution, stationed in the premises of SRR and CVR Government Degree College, doesn’t have a kitchen of its own and serves food it brings from a nearby hotel.
It then submits those bills to the higher education department for reimbursement. Parents of the hospitalised students are demanding from the government to set up a temporary kitchen immediately that the government set up a temporary kitchen shed at the institution and provide hygienic food to their children.Meanwhile, the members of YSR Students Union (YSRSU), Progressive Democratic Students Union (PDSU) and All India Students Federation (AISF) staged a protest at Lenin Centre here on Tuesday.
YSRSU district president D Anji Reddy demanded strict action on the hostel in-charge and others responsible for serving stale food to the girl students. PDSU state president A Ravi Chandra said that the State government has failed in providing basic amenities to the students of welfare colleges.
Deepening crisis
15 students were hospitalised on Monday evening
8 more students were taken to GGH later during the day
The students say they consumed chicken curry served at a function on Sunday
Student union leaders demand action against college principal and hostel in-charge
Krishna Collector interacts with sick students at GGH on Monday