Incident Overview
At least 27 students at a government school in Rajasthan's Kota district fell ill on Monday after allegedly consuming a mid-day meal, prompting officials to order an inquiry into the cause, as reported by multiple news outlets. The children, from Classes 1 to 8, developed symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, stomach ache, and dizziness, according to ANI, India Today, and The Times of India. The incident occurred at Government Upper Primary School in Poonia Devli village, with the mid-day meal including a pumpkin dish.
Symptoms appeared about two hours after eating, around 1 pm, as the school day was ending, as reported by India Today and The Times of India. School principal Chandra Prakash said the school had been dismissed and students were preparing to leave when several started to complain of uneasiness, with those with severe symptoms rushed to Kota for treatment.
Hospitalization and Treatment
Of the 27 students who reported discomfort, 21 with severe symptoms were taken to Kota for treatment, according to multiple sources. Of these, 17 were brought to New Medical College Hospital and four to a private hospital, as reported by India Today, The Times of India, and The Indian Express. The Indian Express added that at the New Medical College Hospital, four children were admitted to a ward while the others were kept under medical observation.
The attending medical officer, Dr Mayank, told reporters that the primary symptom reported by the students was vomiting, with most children experiencing one to two episodes. He added that all admitted children are stable with normal vital signs. District Education Officer (Elementary) Rup Singh Meena visited the hospital to assess the children's condition, confirming that while 27 students reported discomfort, the majority are stable and under observation, with only four to five requiring formal admission.
Official Response and Inquiry
Education Minister Madan Dilawar visited the hospital, assuring that all children are stable and out of danger. Quoted by ANI and India Today, Dilawar said, "Currently, I am at the medical college. I just met all the children, and everyone is fine. They told me that they experienced vomiting and felt dizzy. Now, everyone is healthy." He also emphasized that a probe has been initiated: "It is a matter of inquiry as to what happened and how it happened. We will look into the quality of the food served."
The Indian Express reported that Dilawar had rushed to Kota from Jaipur in the evening to review the situation, reportedly facing flak from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over the condition of government schools in Rajasthan—a detail that was not mentioned in other accounts.
Parent's Account
A mother of one of the affected students described her son's experience to reporters, a quote carried commonly by India Today, The Times of India, and The Indian Express: "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 also claimed that no teacher or school staff accompanied them to the medical facility.
Investigation and Possible Causes
The District Education Officer (Elementary) Roop Singh Meena said the mid-day meal was prepared and supplied by Annapurna Sahakari Samiti to eight or nine schools, and all students consumed the same food, but no other school reported similar complaints. Officials are examining whether extreme heat, humidity, or local water contamination triggered the illness, as it is too early to conclusively identify the meal as the sole cause. Medical teams have been dispatched to the school, and formal conclusions await laboratory and medical test reports, as per the Times of India.