Rajasthan: 27 Students Fall Ill After Eating Mid-Day Meal at Government School in Kota

At least 27 students fell ill after allegedly consuming a mid-day meal at a government school in Poonia Devli village in Rajasthan's Ranpur police station area on Monday, August 24. The students, from Classes 1 to 8, reported symptoms including nausea, vomiting, stomach aches and dizziness, prompting officials to launch an inquiry into the cause.

Twenty-one students were taken to Kota after their symptoms became more severe, PTI reported. Of these, 17 were admitted to the government-run New Medical College Hospital, while four were taken to a private hospital. Officials said all the affected children are currently stable. Bihar Mid-Day Meal Horror: More Than 2 Dozen Students Fall Ill After Detergent Is Added Instead of Salt (Video).

Students Fall Ill After Mid-Day Meal in Kota

According to officials and school staff, 110 of the school's 130 enrolled students were present when the mid-day meal was served. The meal included a pumpkin preparation.

Around two hours later, at about 1 pm, several students began complaining of illness. School principal Chandra Prakash said the school had been dismissed and students were preparing to leave when some began reporting symptoms.

Students with more severe symptoms were taken to Kota for treatment. At the New Medical College Hospital, four were admitted to a ward while others were kept under observation.

The mother of one affected student said, “My son Rahul, a Class 4 student, felt dizzy after eating the pumpkin curry and collapsed. He managed to come home, but his condition deteriorated rapidly, so we brought him to the dispensary and then to a hospital in Kota.” She claimed no teacher or school staff accompanied them to the medical facility.

Officials Begin Inquiry

District Education Officer (Elementary) Rup Singh Meena visited the hospital to assess the condition of the affected students and monitor their recovery. He confirmed that 27 students had reported discomfort, while the majority remained stable and under observation. Only four to five students, he said, required formal admission.

The official said an inquiry has been initiated to establish the cause of the illness. He said the mid-day meal was prepared and supplied by Annapurna Sahakari Samiti to eight or nine schools and that students at those schools had consumed the same food. However, no similar illness had been reported among students at the other schools.

Officials have therefore not yet concluded that the mid-day meal was responsible for the illness.

Food, Water Contamination Being Examined

Authorities are also examining whether extreme heat, humidity or possible local water contamination contributed to the incident.

Medical teams have been deployed to the school, while officials are awaiting laboratory and medical test reports before reaching a formal conclusion.

According to Dr Mayank, the attending medical officer, vomiting was the primary symptom reported by the students. Most children experienced one or two episodes of vomiting.

All admitted children are currently stable, with normal vital signs. The medical team has provided symptomatic treatment to manage vomiting and discomfort.

A detailed report on the incident and medical findings has been forwarded to the hospital superintendent.

While the sudden illness has raised concerns about possible food poisoning, health authorities said the exact cause remains under investigation. Officials are monitoring the situation and examining whether contaminated food or water triggered the symptoms. Further conclusions are expected after laboratory and medical reports are reviewed.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 24, 2026 10:57 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).