After consuming food on the campus on Thursday, more than 50 students of Narsi Monji Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) campus fell ill due to suspected food poisoning. The incident has expressed displeasure among the students and local authorities, who have criticized the administration of the institute for handling the situation.
The students allegedly started reporting symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and fever after eating food provided by the campus canteen. Many of them alleged that the administration initially reduced the seriousness of the situation, according to a report on IANS, immediately opted to treat the affected students in the campus instead of transferring them to hospitals. Private doctors were called to provide treatment in college libraries and general rooms, which increased concerns about adequacy of medical care.
Jadcherla MLA P. Anirudh Reddy visited the campus on learning about the incident and shocked the lack of proper medical facilities. He faced the administration, questioned the qualifications of the doctors treating the students and demanded immediate action. “You are only trying to protect the university. Protect the children. Immediately transfer them to hospitals. If anything happens then who will take responsibility?” Reddy reportedly told the university officials as per the report.
After the intervention of the MLA, about 15–20 students were transferred to hospitals in Mahabubnagar and Hyderabad for better medical care. The remaining students were treated in the campus, although there were concerns about the quality of care.
Students have condemned the administration for their failure to ensure food security and hygiene, citing recurring issues with groceries, vegetables and cooking oil quality. Despite several complaints, no corrective measures were taken, he alleged.
“Administration failure expanded beyond the provision of safe and clean food. Lack of emergency medical transport further increased the crisis. No ambulance was arranged for students requiring immediate care. It was provided with much pressure from the officials concerned. It was only after that an ambulance was finally arranged., While throwing the entire disregard of the administration for student welfare, “read a student statement.
