Around 74 to over 100 students of the Government Tribal Welfare School and Ashram Boys’ Hostel in Devarapalli village, Maredumilli Mandal, Polavaram district, Andhra Pradesh fell ill after consuming breakfast on Saturday morning (February 7, 2026), prompting emergency medical response and an official probe.
The children, who had eaten idli and chutney, developed symptoms like vomiting, stomach pain, fever, diarrhoea and discomfort, and were rushed to hospitals at Maredumilli Primary Health Centre and Rampachodavaram Area Hospital where they are being treated and reported to be in stable condition. Police have registered a case, and food safety and district authorities have collected food and water samples for laboratory analysis to determine the exact cause.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has ordered a high-level inquiry, directed continuous medical monitoring of students, and instructed officials to take stringent departmental and, if necessary, criminal action against those responsible for negligence.
Emergency Response and Official Reaction
The incident unfolded on the morning of 7 February 2026 when students at the Devarapalli Government Tribal Welfare School consumed breakfast in the hostel canteen. Shortly thereafter, multiple children began complaining of nausea and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Local police and health officials said that out of 255 students who had breakfast, a substantial number developed signs of food poisoning. While initial reports mentioned about 74 students affected, later ones from reliable sources indicate that as many as around 105 fell ill over the course of the day.
Ambulances and medical teams were rushed to the scene as panic spread among students and staff. Eighteen seriously affected children were first taken to the Maredumilli PHC, while others were shifted to Rampachodavaram Area Hospital for treatment. Some students reportedly required intensive care observation for dehydration and persistent vomiting. Hospital authorities confirmed that all students were being provided appropriate care, and none is currently in critical condition.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Sai Prashant told press agencies that the affected children were diagnosed with mild food poisoning, and that the exact cause will only be clear after laboratory tests of food and water samples are completed. “Police have registered a case and are assisting the inquiry, but laboratory reports will determine the specific contaminant or lapse,” he said.
Political and Administrative Actions
The incident drew swift attention from the state’s highest political leadership. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the situation with senior officials and directed that the District Collector submit a detailed report immediately, with comprehensive findings on the cause and lapses. He emphasised that stringent action would be taken against all those found negligent, including possible departmental and criminal proceedings where justified.
Officials have also constituted a Joint Inspection Committee that includes members from food safety, health, and administrative departments to conduct a thorough investigation. Food and drinking water samples from the hostel kitchen have been collected and sent for forensic analysis to check for contamination or unsafe preparation practices. A special medical camp was also established at the hostel and at the hospitals to monitor students’ health and provide supportive care where needed.
In the wake of the crisis, authorities have conducted preliminary health check-ups on the rest of the hostel’s students and provided treatment to those showing signs of diarrhoea or other milder symptoms. Parents and guardians of affected students have been kept informed of their condition, and local representatives have visited hospitals to oversee care.
Community Reaction and Wider Concerns
The incident has reignited longstanding concerns among parents, local activists, and community leaders about food quality and hygiene standards in residential government school hostels. Many parents complained that food preparation practices at the school had been sub-par in previous days, with some children showing mild illness the day before the mass outbreak. Such testimonies have heightened anger and frustration.
Councillors and tribal welfare officials who visited the scene condemned what they described as “serious negligence” by the hostel management and kitchen staff. They urged immediate improvements in kitchen hygiene, staff training, and regular health and safety audits to ensure that such an incident does not recur. Some parents demanded punitive action against responsible officials to ensure accountability and to safeguard the wellbeing of children in future.
The episode has drawn comparisons with similar food safety incidents in other government schools and hostels across India, exposing broader systemic challenges in monitoring nutrition programmes and ensuring safe food for children from disadvantaged communities. Experts say such outbreaks highlight the urgent need for strengthened oversight mechanisms, regular sanitation checks, proper training of kitchen staff, and genuine grievance redressal systems for students and parents.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At its heart, this incident is about children’s health and dignity. School meals and hostel food are not just routine services for many tribal and economically disadvantaged students, they are a cornerstone of their education, wellbeing, and survival. When these services fail, the impact is immediate, distressing, and deeply personal. The fact that scores of children were hospitalised raises serious questions about systemic neglect, accountability, and the adequacy of government oversight.
While swift political response and official directives for inquiry are welcome, they should be accompanied by long-term reforms in food safety governance, transparent inspection regimes, and clear accountability frameworks that protect students rather than shield institutions. Public trust can only be restored when parents see tangible, sustained improvements in the quality and safety of meals served to their children.
