Several students staying in the hostel of an engineering college located on the outskirts of the city were hospitalised on Sunday after they complained of diarrhoea and vomiting. The doctors treating them said that they suspected food poisoning as all those admitted were hostellers and had taken food in the same place.
S. Somasundaram, Deputy Director of Health Services, said that a team was sent to the college to collect samples of the food and water.
The team would also inspect the kitchen to ascertain its condition. Officials from the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department (Food Safety Wing) were also taking samples separately. The samples would be sent to the Government Food Safety laboratory here for analysis. Further action would be taken based on the test results.
Notices were issued to the college seeking an explanation and directing it to improve the hostel condition.
According to G. Rajendran, Deputy Medical Director of PSG Hospital, where 14 students were brought, the students had symptoms that were typical in cases of food poisoning. Four students required administration of intravenous fluids and their condition was stable and out of danger.
Some students had taken treatment at other private hospitals located near the college.
