Students of the Government Tribal Welfare Ashram School in Devarapalli were undergoing treatment at the hospital on Saturday. | Photo credit: BY ARRANGEMENT
More than 70 students fell ill, allegedly due to food poisoning, after being served half-cooked food and sambar at the Government Tribal Welfare Ashram School at Devarapalli in Polavaram district’s Rampachodavaram agency area on Saturday.
Integrated Tribal Development Agency, Rampacchodavaram, authorities shifted the affected students to Rampachodavaram Area Hospital and nearby health facilities after they complained of vomiting and stomach pain.
Speaking to The Hindu, Polavaram District Collector and Alluri Sitarama Raju District Collector AS Dinesh Kumar said food poisoning is believed to be the cause of the illness and all the students admitted to the hospitals are out of danger. He said water and food samples were taken for testing and further investigation.
Meanwhile, Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare Minister Satya Kumar Yadav on Saturday spoke to officials of the Health Department and Polavaram district about the treatment being provided to the students admitted to the hospitals.
The minister directed the officials to send a team of additional medical specialists, if necessary, to inquire about the condition of the students who fell ill in the tribal school.
Published – 07 Feb 2026 21:28 IST