Key Update 

A suspected case of food poisoning at the Morarji Desai Residential School for Minorities in Hirekodi village, Chikkodi taluk, Belagavi, Karnataka sickened more than 170 students on Friday, September 12, 2025. Doctors treated 119 students initially and later confirmed that the number had risen to 177. The illness broke out around 9 a.m. when students developed vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, fever, and weakness shortly after breakfast. The hostel accommodates nearly 400 students from Classes 6 to 12. Students ate upma for breakfast and drank locally supplied water. Although most cases appeared after breakfast, some children who had skipped the morning meal also fell sick. This raised suspicions of water contamination.

Hospitalisation and Treatment

Officials admitted 77 students to different hospitals for treatment. Doctors at the Taluk Hospital and the Mother and Child Hospital in Chikkodi treated 81 students, while they referred 19 serious cases to the Belagavi Institute of Medical Sciences (BIMS). The rest received outpatient care, and 40 children, including those treated at private hospitals, have already recovered and gone home.

Government Action and Accountability

Authorities suspended the school Principal and hostel warden after the incident. Additional District Health and Family Welfare Officer S.S. Gadad and his team inspected the facilities and tracked the students’ recovery. State MLC Prakash Hukkeri visited the hospitals, interacted with students, and warned officials of strict action for negligence. He also instructed health authorities to stock enough medicines and arrange extra supplies if required.

Source: The Hindu