Vadodara: The health department of the Karamsad-Anand Municipal Corporation sealed the kitchen of Ranak girls’ hostel in Vallabh Vidyanagar on Friday, where 195 students reportedly fell ill with suspected food poisoning last week. The action came after an inspection uncovered several food safety and hygiene violations.During the surprise inspection of the hostel kitchen, officials found rotten, fungus-covered potatoes and coconut powder that had exceeded its expiry date. Jaggery was also found stored in the open, while officials flagged several lapses in kitchen hygiene.The inspection further revealed an open drainage line in the kitchen. The mandatory fitness certificates for food-handling staff were also not available. Following the inspection, the health department sealed the hostel with immediate effect.The action came days after at least 195 girls staying at the hostel, which is managed by Charotar Vidya Mandal (CVM), reported symptoms including vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain after dinner. Twenty of them were hospitalised and were later reported to be out of danger.Food and water samples collected from the hostel kitchen, along with samples of paneer and milk, have been sent to a laboratory for testing.
