Twenty-two students were hospitalized on Jan. 29, 2026, after consuming a reheated day-old meal at Mandal Parishad Primary School in Venkatapur village, Sangareddy district, Telangana, marking the second food poisoning incident at a local public school within days.
The students fell ill after eating sambar and rice that was reportedly leftover food from a school function held the previous day.
At least 42 children consumed the reheated meal during lunch, with 22 developing symptoms consistent with food poisoning. The affected students experienced stomach pain, vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea shortly after eating, prompting school staff to immediately transport them to Narayankhed Government Hospital for treatment.
Health officials noted that the rapid onset of symptoms within hours of consumption suggested possible bacterial contamination from improper storage or reheating procedures, according to People.
Medical Response and Recovery
Medical officials confirmed that all 22 hospitalized children were in stable condition and received prompt medical attention. A police official from Narayanked stated that the students were quickly shifted to the hospital for treatment and were expected to be discharged the same evening.
All affected children have since been discharged from the hospital, and authorities reported receiving no complaints from parents as the investigation into the cause of the illness continues. Medical tests were conducted to identify the specific bacteria or pathogens responsible for the contamination.
The incident has prompted swift administrative action from district officials. A staff member allegedly involved in preparing the lunch was removed from their position, and the District Educational Officer issued a show-cause notice to the in-charge headmaster for allegedly failing to supervise the mid-day meal preparation.
A show-cause notice is a formal legal or administrative request allowing an individual to explain or justify their actions before a decision or penalty is taken against them, The Logical Indian reported.
Broader Food Safety Concerns
The Telangana State Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of the incident, directing the Sangareddy District Collector to submit a detailed report by Feb. 24, 2026.
District officials, including the District Collector and local MLA Sanjeev Reddy, visited the hospital to interact with affected children and their families following the incident.
This case highlights ongoing concerns about food safety in India's Mid-Day Meal Scheme, one of the world's largest free-food-in-school programs that serves 120 million children daily in more than a million schools.
The incident has prompted parents to call for stricter food safety protocols and guidelines for meals served in government schools. In 2022, India reported 979 victims of food poisoning in schools, the highest number in six years, according to data from the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, as per the Independent.
