A tragic case of suspected food poisoning claimed the life of 13-year-old Kerland, a student from Meghalaya, studying at Gokul Educational Institution in T. Kagepura village, Malavalli taluk, Mandya. The incident occurred on Sunday, while 29 other students also fell ill and received medical attention at hospitals in Malavalli and Mandya.

Eight students in serious condition were shifted to the Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS), with one student placed in the ICU. According to Mandya Deputy Commissioner Kumar, the affected students had consumed vegetable pulav distributed at the school on Friday during Holi celebrations. Some students reported uneasiness the next day, with symptoms escalating to vomiting and nausea, tragically resulting in the death of Kerland.

It is reported that an industrialist had sponsored food across multiple locations, and leftover food was served to Gokul Educational Institution students. Further inspection revealed that the institution was only permitted to run a school and not a residential facility. Currently, the school accommodates 202 students, including 24 from Meghalaya, with others from nearby villages.

The Deputy Commissioner pointed to negligence on the institution’s part for operating an unauthorized hostel. Investigations are ongoing to trace the source of the food and ascertain the cause behind the boy’s death. Police have filed an FIR, and a medical team at MIMS continues to monitor the health of the hospitalized students. The parents of the deceased have been notified.