On Wednesday night, 46 girl students from Mantri SSD Girls High School in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha, fell ill after dinner and subsequently went to bed. The local district administration has initiated an inquiry into the situation.
Following the incident, eight of the affected students are receiving care at Mantri Health Centre, while 11 others are treated at Badasahi Group Health Centre. The remaining 27 students are being looked after in the school hostel.
Netrananda Mallick, the Mayurbhanj Additional District Magistrate (ADM), confirmed that the district administration was notified of the incident on Thursday. The district Collector promptly visited the school to assess the situation. “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 stated in an interview with ANI.
He also mentioned that the government has directed all districts to maintain hygienic conditions concerning food and other relevant matters. “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 added.
Baripada District Collector Hemakanta Say has ordered a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the students’ illnesses. The inquiry will also focus on ensuring the recovery of all affected students. The precise cause of the illness remains to be established and is expected to be revealed upon the inquiry’s completion. “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 said.
Health officials are currently providing treatment to the affected girls at the school, while the investigation will assess whether the illnesses are linked to the food consumed by the students.
A History of Similar Incidents in Mayurbhanj
Mayurbhanj has seen several similar occurrences involving students at residential schools and hostels in recent months.
In April 2026, over 100 students at Kakabandha Ashram School in Rasgovindpur block fell ill after eating stale fermented rice (pakhala) and other unapproved food items. Tragically, a fifth-grade student, Rupali Besra, died after being treated in the ICU. The headmaster of the school was suspended, and the Chief Minister ordered a high-level investigation. Parents claimed that leftover food from the previous day had been served.
During July-August 2026, approximately 92 girl students at Sargoda Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) under Bijatala block experienced symptoms like diarrhoea and vomiting after consuming stale pakhala and low-quality sattu. The hostel was transformed into a temporary treatment center, and the headmistress was suspended.
In August, more than 19 students at the SSD Girls’ High School hostel in Badasimulia, Kaptipada block, were hospitalized due to diarrhoea and vomiting after having fish and rice for dinner, prompting a medical team to examine all hostel residents.
In September 2026, nearly 250 students at Bishipur Ashram School protested by leaving their hostel and marching several kilometers in response to being served rice infested with insects and worms, along with experiencing shortages of drinking water and electricity.
Earlier, in February 2025, over 100 tribal students from Basipitha High School lodged complaints with the District Collector about being given stale and substandard food.
