HYDERABAD: The hostel mess E1, on the Osmania University campus was sealed by the GHMC food inspector on Sunday morning following complaints lodged by the hostel inmates about the poor quality of food being served there.

Students of University College of Law, OU had complained to the GHMC that unhygienic food was being served in the hostel mess, following which the food inspector sealed the dining hall after an inspection. On Saturday, four students had taken ill after eating here.

Students had complained that the water used for cooking was not purified and that the cooking was being carried out under unhygienic conditions. The hostellers could not have their breakfast and lunch at the mess as it was sealed for most part of the day.
“The condition of the kitchen is very bad. Besides, the quality of pulses, rice and salt does not seem to be of good quality at all,” said Dr S A M Quadri, GHMC health officer, who inspected the hostel mess. He added that photographs of the mess were taken and food samples sent for testing.

The students also alleged misappropriations in grocery purchases.

In response, Prof B Laxmaiah, dean, student affairs, said, “The university is going to constitute a committee to look into these allegations.”

He said that after a meeting with the student group on Sunday evening, the university authorities assured that the their demand for quality and nutritious food would be met in a day or two.

Later in the day when the OU authorities called on the food inspector and furnished explanations that the floor of the kitchen was slushy due to rain, the hostel mess was reopened at around 4 pm. Subsequently, after a few hours, students had dinner at the mess.