A total of 128 students staying at Excel College hostels at Kumarapalayam suffered from vomiting and diarrhoea over the last three days. Following this, Collector Durgamoorthi directed the college management to declare holidays till November 2.
The hostels accommodate about 3,757 boys and girls, with food prepared in a common kitchen and distributed to various messes. After dinner on October 26, four students developed vomiting and diarrhoea and were treated at the Primary Health Centre at Pallakkapalayam.
The next day, 55 students from three girls’ hostels and two boys’ hostels developed similar symptoms and were treated as outpatients at the college medical centre and two private hospitals. Water samples were collected and sent for laboratory testing. The college was instructed to provide only packaged drinking water for cooking and drinking purposes. The common kitchen was temporarily closed, and food was supplied from other hostels.
On the night of October 27, 69 more students complained of abdominal pain and diarrhoea and were treated at various hospitals. During inspection, officials from the Food Safety Department found that the water storage tanks were not properly chlorinated or cleaned and that the RO system was inadequately maintained. They instructed the college to carry out maintenance work in the kitchen, water storage, and pipeline areas.
On Wednesday (October 28), the Collector ordered closure of the college till November 2 and directed officials to monitor the situation. She said all 128 affected students were treated as outpatients and had since recovered. “All students are fine now,” she added.
Published – October 29, 2025 12:23 pm IST
