Mandya, 16 March

In a suspected case of food poisoning, a 13-year-old boy died, and 41 other inmates of an unauthorised hostel run by a private school in Mandya were admitted to the hospital on Sunday, after they were served leftover food from a Holi celebration, police said.

The incident occurred at Gokula Vidya Samsthe in T Kagepura village in Malavalli taluk of Mandya district, police said. The deceased, identified as Kerlong, hailed from Meghalaya, they said.

Superintendent of Police (Mandya) Mallikarjun Baladandi said the school, which has been operating since 1989, did not have a license to run a hostel.

A total of 202 students study at the school from LKG to Class 8, with about 30 students – 24 from Meghalaya – staying at the hostel. The school reportedly follows an arrangement where in hostel inmates receive leftover food from nearby events, celebrations or weddings, he said.

On 14 March, a group from Malavalli organised a feast as part of Holi celebrations. The leftover food was later served to the 30 students at the hostel, police said.

On the next day, several students complained of stomach pain and were admitted to the hospital, he said. On Sunday, a 13-year-old boy collapsed and was rushed to the hospital, where he was declared dead. The conditions of seven other students are critical, and one is on ventilator, he said.