A tragic incident has taken place at Gokula Vidya Samsthe, situated in T Kagepura village within the Malavalli taluk of Mandya district. In a suspected case of food poisoning at a private school hostel in Karnataka’s Mandya region, two students from Meghalaya have lost their lives. A 12-year-old boy, who was undergoing treatment for multiple organ failure, passed away on Monday night. Previously, a 13-year-old student had also died after consuming food at the hostel.
In response to this tragedy, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma extended his condolences to the grieving families and assured that appropriate measures were being implemented. In a statement on the social media platform, he confirmed the arrest of the school’s owner and the hostel warden. Furthermore, the school has been closed, and efforts are underway to facilitate the return of the affected students to their homes.
The unfortunate event took place at Gokula Vidya Samsthe, located in T Kagepura village in Malavalli taluk of Mandya district. On Sunday, more than 50 students fell ill and were promptly taken to the hospital after eating at the hostel. Initial investigations indicated that the school had been operating its hostel facility without the necessary license. The hostel, which lacked essential amenities such as adequate sanitation facilities, was being illegally managed on the first floor of the school building.
Authorities have reported that the school accommodates 202 students ranging from LKG to Class 8, with approximately 30 boarders, the majority of whom are from Meghalaya. Investigators found that the hostel students were frequently served leftover food obtained from local events, celebrations, and weddings. On March 14, the students received food from a Holi celebration, which included vegetable pulao and chutney. Initially, none of the children expressed any discomfort; however, the next day, six students reported severe stomach pain and were subsequently hospitalized. The condition of some worsened, resulting in the death of one student on Sunday. Among the 28 students receiving treatment, seven are in critical condition, with one requiring ventilator support.
In connection with this incident, three individuals have been arrested. Mandya Superintendent of Police, Mallikarjun Baladandi, confirmed that a case has been filed under Section 286 (negligent conduct concerning a poisonous substance) and Section 106 (causing death by negligence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Those arrested include the cook responsible for preparing the food, the hostel warden who neglected to verify its quality, and the school owner for gross negligence.
Mandya Deputy Commissioner Dr. Kumar indicated that the health department was notified on March 15 and promptly sent officials to investigate the situation. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also commented on the tragedy, describing it as a heartbreaking incident and expressing condolences to the affected families. The state government has pledged to take stringent action against those accountable while ensuring that the necessary medical care is provided to the ailing students.
