Bhubaneswar, Odisha: Serious concerns have emerged over food safety and student health at Utkal University in Odisha's capital, Bhubaneswar, after a dead frog was allegedly found in food served at Ladies Hostel-7.

According to reports, the incident took place on Tuesday night when a dead frog was allegedly spotted in the chilli soybean curry served to female students. The incident has triggered anger and fear among hostel residents.

Meanwhile, concerns have increased over reported jaundice cases on the university campus. Two female students from the hostel have tested positive for jaundice, while blood samples of more than 10 suspected cases have been collected for testing. Some students have also reportedly experienced symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea. However, the exact cause of these health issues remains unclear.

BMC Collects Food And Water Samples

Following the complaints, a special team from the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) visited the university and collected food and water samples for laboratory testing.

The quality of the food and drinking water will become clearer once the test reports are received.

University Takes Emergency Measures

To ensure student safety, the university administration has arranged 1,500 litres of purified drinking water for the hostels. Boilers have also been installed at different locations to provide hot water.

All food shops operating inside the campus have been temporarily closed. A 24-hour control room has also been established to address students' complaints and concerns.

Vice-Chancellor Orders Investigation

Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Chandi Prasad Nanda said the complaint regarding the suspected foreign object found in the food has been taken seriously.

He stated that an investigation is underway to establish whether the object was actually a frog or something else. All hostels have been alerted, and the Registrar will visit the hostels to assess the situation.

The state Health Department and BMC teams are also monitoring the students' health. The university administration has assured that further action will be taken based on the food and water testing reports.

The administration is also planning infrastructure improvements to address the underlying problems and prevent similar incidents in the future.