33 students hospitalised after consuming mid-day meal at Coimbatore school; Health crisis feared

A major health scare unfolded in Coimbatore district after more than 33 students reportedly fell ill following the consumption of a mid-day meal at the Government Middle School in Odakkalpalayam under the Sultanpet block. The incident has once again brought the safety and quality of the government’s flagship mid-day meal scheme under sharp focus.

According to officials, the students began complaining of vomiting and severe stomach pain shortly after having lunch. Some children reportedly fell sick within the school premises, while others developed symptoms after returning home and alerted their parents. Panic quickly spread in the locality as the number of affected students rose.

Panchayat officials and local authorities rushed the children to nearby private hospitals for immediate medical attention. Several students are currently being treated at Aram Hospital in Sultanpet, while others were admitted to Purushothaman Hospital and Royal Care Hospital in the Senjeri Malai area.

Doctors treating the children said that while the symptoms were distressing, no life-threatening complications have been reported so far.

Sultanpet Block Development Officer (BDO) Saravanan, who visited the school and hospitals, confirmed that food samples from the mid-day meal have been sent to the Food Safety Department for detailed testing. “All affected students are under medical supervision and are stable. We are awaiting laboratory reports to determine the exact cause of the illness,” he said.

Following the incident, orders were issued to conduct a thorough inspection of the quality, preparation process, and storage of the food served at the school. The Sultanpet police have also initiated an inquiry to ascertain whether negligence or lapses in hygiene led to the suspected food-related illness.

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 The incident has caused shock and anxiety among parents and residents, many of whom have demanded stricter monitoring mechanisms and accountability in the implementation of the mid-day meal scheme. Education officials have assured parents that corrective measures will be taken once the investigation is complete.

The episode comes amid heightened sensitivity around school meal safety, following a recent incident in Karnataka where a viral video showed worms in cooked rice served to children at a government school. Together, these cases have reignited a broader debate on food safety standards, storage practices, and oversight in government-run nutrition programmes across southern India.