On Wednesday night, 46 female students at Mantri SSD Girls High School in the Badasahi block of Mayurbhanj district, Odisha, became ill after dinner and subsequent sleep, prompting local authorities to initiate an inquiry into the situation.
As reported, eight students are currently being treated at the Mantri Health Centre, while 11 others are at the Badasahi Group Health Centre. The remaining 27 are receiving care at the school hostel.
Netrananda Mallick, the Additional District Magistrate of Mayurbhanj, stated that the administration received news of the incident on Thursday, leading the district Collector to promptly visit the school.
“We received this information today, and the Collector immediately visited the school; the district administration is fully aware of the situation. The students are currently undergoing treatment, and there are no major issues; I believe the matter will be resolved following a proper inquiry,” Mallick told ANI.
Mallick emphasized that the government has mandated all districts to maintain hygienic conditions concerning food and other related factors.
“The government has issued categorical instructions to all districts to ensure hygienic conditions regarding food and other aspects. The matter is currently under investigation, and it will be resolved once the inquiry report is received,” the ADM stated.
In response to the situation, Baripada District Collector Hemakanta Say has called for an investigation to determine the cause of the students’ illnesses. This inquiry will also prioritize the recovery of all affected students.
“The probe will determine the exact reason why 46 students fell ill and will focus on ensuring that all the girls recover their health as quickly as possible. The real cause will become clear only after the inquiry is completed,” the Collector remarked.
Health officials are currently treating the affected girls at the school, while the investigation will assess whether the illnesses are related to the food served to the students.
Mayurbhanj has seen several similar incidents involving students from residential schools and hostels in recent months.
In April 2026, over 100 students from Kakabandha Ashram School in Rasgovindpur fell ill after consuming stale fermented rice, mashed potatoes, and other unauthorized items. Tragically, a Class 5 student named Rupali Besra died after receiving ICU treatment. Following this, the school headmaster was suspended, and a high-level probe was ordered by the Chief Minister. Parents alleged that leftover food from the previous day had been served.
In July and August 2026, around 92 students at Sargoda Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya experienced diarrhoea and vomiting after eating stale food, leading to the temporary conversion of the hostel into a treatment facility and the subsequent suspension of the headmistress.
In August, more than 19 students from the SSD Girls’ High School hostel in Badasimulia were hospitalized due to similar symptoms after consuming fish and rice for dinner. A medical team was dispatched to examine all residents of the hostel.
In September 2026, nearly 250 students from Bishipur Ashram School protested against infested rice and shortages of drinking water and electricity.
Previously, in February 2025, over 100 tribal students from Basipitha High School had complained to the District Collector about being provided with stale and substandard food.
