600 IIT-Bombay students take ill after dinner

Around 600 students of the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) were taken ill after having dinner at the hostel mess on Sunday night. Hostel authorities said the Chinese food served for dinner might have caused food poisoning. An investigation has been ordered into the matter.

Sources said students were seen running to the campus hospital from hostel numbers 12, 13, and 14 after they fall ill due to suspected food poisoning. Most of the students were vomiting and complained of stomachache and headache.
While most of the ailing students have been sent back after treatment, some are still  admitted to the hospital. Interestingly, these three hospitals share a common mess.

A student, who is a resident of one of these hostels and has also suffered food poisoning, said: “I had a stomachache and felt really uneasy. Yesterday night I was treated at the hospital. I could not attend my classes on Tuesday due to uneasiness and stomachache. After many students started complaining of similar symptoms,  doctors came to a conclusion that it was food poisoning. However, doctors have also mentioned a possibility of water contamination. While most of us are now okay, there are some still at the hospital.”

Sources said 10 of the 600 students are still in the hospital. “Students started showing symptoms of food poisoning on Monday morning. Many of them thought it was a viral infection. However, when they came to know that many students were showing similar symptoms, they realised the seriousness and visited the campus hospital. However, the situation is under control now,” said a source, requesting anonymity.
“We have already initiated an investigation into the role of mess contractor. Required action will be taken. The contract can also be terminated based on the level of misconduct in terms of whether the incident was accidental or pure ignorance. We are waiting for pathology reports. However, there are

no left over food. Meanwhile, we are suspecting that it is due to use of raw vegetables in the Chinese food that
was served on Sunday for dinner.”  

Jaya Joshi, public relations officer of the IIT-B, said: “All the students were successfully treated at the campus hospital. While some are still admitted, most of them have been sent back to their hostels. The situation is under control now.”
According to sources, there are around 2,000 students at these three hostels.