Around 80 students of Morarji Residential School for Minorities in Hirekodi taluk fell ill after consuming lunch on Friday. All were admitted to hospitals, with one girl shifted to Belagavi District Hospital in critical condition.
According to officials, 37 boys and 33 girls were treated at the Taluk Hospital, while 3 boys and 7 girls were admitted to the Mother and Child Hospital. Their condition has since improved.
“Students who consumed salt in the morning developed severe vomiting and diarrhea. They are undergoing treatment at the Taluk and Mother and Child hospitals,” said Additional District Health Officer Dr. S. S. Gadada. He added that out of over 400 students at the hostel, 177—including 101 boys and 76 girls—had fallen sick, many of whom were treated in the outpatient department by visiting doctors.
Prakash Hukkeri, the state’s special representative in Delhi, visited the hostel, pulled up the staff and medical team, and stressed the need for clean water, hygienic food, and better sanitation at the facility.
