Six students were admitted to HIMS Hospital as parents accuse the college administration and the gas agency of negligence
A serious food poisoning incident was reported from the College of Agricultural Sciences hostel in Sarapur, Hassan district, Karnataka. The hostel, which accommodates nearly 400 female students, has allegedly been facing a shortage of commercial gas cylinders for the past two months, forcing cooking to be done outdoors using wood-burning stoves. Authorities have launched an inquiry after contaminated sambar reportedly caused illness among several students.
Hassan: Fifteen female students from the College of Agricultural Sciences hostel in Sarapur, Hassan district, fell ill after consuming sambar in which a lizard was allegedly found during dinner on Wednesday night. Six of the affected students were shifted to HIMS Hospital in Hassan for treatment after experiencing severe symptoms, including vomiting and dizziness.
According to hostel sources, the contamination was discovered only after several students had already consumed the food. Panic spread among the students as many began feeling unwell shortly afterwards.
Students hospitalised after food contamination
The affected students were immediately given medical attention, and six of them were referred to Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS) for further treatment. Doctors are reportedly monitoring their condition, and all are said to be stable.
The District Health Officer (DHO) personally visited HIMS Hospital to review the students’ health condition and gather details about the incident.
Allegations of gas cylinder shortage and poor hygiene
Students have alleged that the hostel has been facing a severe shortage of commercial gas cylinders for nearly two months. The hostel, which houses around 400 students, reportedly requires four to six cylinders every week, but only one or two cylinders have been supplied regularly.
Due to the shortage, kitchen staff were allegedly forced to cook outdoors using a wood-burning stove. Students claimed that the open-air cooking environment and lack of proper hygiene may have led to the contamination of the sambar.
“Cooking was being done outside without proper cleanliness because there were not enough gas cylinders. This negligence put students’ health at risk,” students reportedly told officials.
Parents express anger over negligence
Parents of the students have strongly criticised both the college administration and the gas agency, accusing them of irresponsibility and failing to ensure safe food preparation conditions in the hostel.
“A hostel with hundreds of students should not face such basic shortages. This incident could have been prevented with proper management,” a parent said.
Investigation underway
Health and education authorities are expected to conduct a detailed investigation into the food poisoning incident, including the hostel’s kitchen practices, hygiene standards, and supply management.
The incident has raised serious concerns about hostel infrastructure and food safety measures in educational institutions across the region.
