In a troubling incident on Friday, nearly 30 schoolgirls from the Government Adi Dravidar Girls’ Hostel in Thanjavur were rushed to the hospital after exhibiting symptoms of nausea and vomiting, allegedly due to a case of food poisoning.

The hostel, which operates from a wedding hall in Pattukkottai and accommodates students from the Government Girls Higher Secondary School, had served rice with turmeric-based curry and fried potatoes for breakfast. By around 11 am, six students began feeling unwell and were promptly taken to Pattukkottai Government Hospital by staff.

Soon after, 22 more girls reported similar symptoms, bringing the total affected to 30. Medical professionals at the hospital treated the girls and suggested the possibility of food contamination.

Officials including Revenue Divisional Officer Sankar, Tahsildar Dharmendra, and Pattukkottai Deputy Superintendent of Police Ravichandran visited the hospital, offering reassurance and monitoring the situation closely. Food safety officials collected meal samples for laboratory analysis to determine the cause.

News of the incident quickly reached the students’ families, prompting many anxious parents to gather at the hospital. Despite the initial panic, hospital authorities confirmed that all the students were stable and out of danger.

The episode has raised concerns about food hygiene in hostels, particularly those run under welfare schemes, prompting calls for stricter quality checks.