IIT-Delhi exam deferred after food poisoning cases spike
Viral Reddit post by student describes chaotic scene on campus after students consumed litti chokha served in hostel mess for dinner
Dozens of students at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi reportedly fell sick with symptoms of food poisoning, sparking panic and a barrage of online criticism.
The outbreak, which primarily affected students of a boys' hostel, led to the deferment of at least one end-semester exam.
A viral Reddit post, allegedly by an IIT-Delhi student, described a chaotic scene on campus after students consumed litti chokha served in the hostel mess for dinner. The post further criticised the institute for not providing hygienic food, calling the incident a “peak embarrassment” to IIT-Delhi.
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Viral Reddit post
In the viral post, the Reddit user alleged that the mess food was responsible for the mass food poisoning among the students, stating, “We pay for this mess food, don’t even have an option to opt out, and this is what we get?”
According to the post, students developed diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, and shivering overnight, after consuming the litti chokha served in the mess.
The post claimed that several students were treated at the campus hospital but some had to be rushed to the nearby private hospital.
He detailed how the entire hostel turned into a “patient ward,” describing the food as potentially contaminated and pointing to poor hygiene as a recurring issue.
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IIT denies blame
However, IIT-Delhi has pushed back against the claims, saying the food poisoning was caused by sweets purchased from an outside vendor — not the mess food.
“Some students residing in a boys' hostel reported symptoms like nausea, fever, and stomach ache. They had eaten sweets sourced externally,” the statement said.
All affected students have since received treatment, and most were discharged quickly. The institute emphasised that all students are now stable and receiving necessary support.
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Exam rescheduled
The institute confirmed that one exam originally scheduled for April 30 has been postponed to May 8, 2025. The rest of the exam schedule remains unchanged.
The administration said it is continuing to monitor the situation and assist affected students.