Telangana's state boarding schools linked to 48 student deaths, 886 food poisonings
In July 2025 the National Human Rights Commission said it had been told of about 48 student deaths and 886 food-poisoning incidents in Telangana's government-run residential 'gurukul' schools, and on 29 July 2025 it demanded a report from the state within four weeks. The cases included 16-year-old Shailaja, a student at a tribal welfare residential school in Wankidi, Kumaram Bheem Asifabad district, who died after 64 students were hospitalised with food poisoning in October 2024. The poisonings continued: in July 2026, 33 students were hospitalised at a Kamareddy gurukul and 26 fell ill after breakfast at the Chenchu Tribal Government Residential School in Mannanur, Nagarkurnool, where some said they saw insects in the khichdi. Coverage reported suspensions of school-level staff but no action against officials running the residential school system.
approximately 48 student deaths and 886 incidents of food poisoning reported across Gurukul schools in Telangana
Some of the students said that they saw insects in the 'khichdi' served to them in the breakfast.
Not yet contacted for this story.
No outcome recorded yet.