A devastating incident has left a 13-year-old boy from Meghalaya dead and 28 other children hospitalised after consuming contaminated food at an unauthorised hostel in Karnataka’s Mandya district.
Sunday Kerlang, a Class VI student, collapsed on March 16 and was declared dead by doctors. The tragedy unfolded when the group of 30 children consumed leftover food from a Holi celebration at Gokula Vidya Samsthe, a private school in T Kagepura village.
The school, which has been operating since 1989, lacked proper authorisation to run residential facilities, according to Mandya Superintendent of Police Mallikarjun Baladandi.
The hostel was illegally operating on the first floor of the school building without basic amenities, including toilets for children. The students, mostly from Meghalaya, were served vegetable pulao and chutney left over from a Holi feast, which was allegedly prepared by an external vendor without the school’s permission.
The police investigation revealed that the school would often supply leftover food to the hostel students from nearby events and celebrations. In this case, the school relied on an external vendor, which led to the tragic consequences.
Baladandi confirms that a case has been registered under Section 286 and 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and three individuals, including the cook, warden, and school owner, have been arrested in connection with the incident.
Mandya Deputy Commissioner Dr. Kumar expressed his deep sadness over the incident, stating that the school’s negligence was evident. He noted that the school had no authority to run a hostel and failed to conduct proper quality checks on the external food supply.
“Everyone must be extra cautious before consuming food from external sources, especially when serving young children. Precious lives should not be lost due to carelessness,” he warned.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed his grief on social media, stating that he has instructed officials to ensure proper treatment for the affected children and take strict action against those responsible. With 7 of the 28 hospitalised children in critical condition, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of ensuring food safety, especially in institutions catering to children.
