Jabalpur, May 22: A troubling incident has emerged amid the intense heat wave sweeping central India. During a training camp at the Indian Institute of Information Technology Design and Manufacturing (IIITDM) campus on Dumna Road, over 31 National Cadet Corps (NCC) trainees fell seriously ill due to heat stroke and dehydration symptoms.
Chaos erupted in the camp on Thursday evening, prompting immediate medical attention for all affected cadets, who were rushed to the district hospital.
According to officials, by 8 PM on Thursday, cadets began reporting dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea, and extreme weakness.
CMHO Dr. Naveen Kothari stated, “Following the incident, children from the ongoing NCC camp at IIITDM started arriving here. So far, 31 children have been brought in, including 15 boys and 16 girls. When they reached Victoria Hospital, some complained of abdominal pain, while others were anxious. A few reported chest pain, and some exhibited symptoms of drowsiness and faintness.”
He added, “Initially, we treated them for heat stroke, but our food safety officers will also investigate whether this was a case of food poisoning or heat stroke. We will examine the food served at the camp.”
Dr. Kothari reported that nearly all the children are recovering. Medical teams at the hospital confirmed that while most cadets are stable and responding to treatment, three to four remain in critical condition, with at least seven admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
A specialized team of doctors is closely monitoring all young trainees, and families of the affected cadets have been informed about their conditions.
NCC officials and representatives from the district health department are present at the hospital to coordinate assistance efforts.
The training camp began on May 14 and is set to continue until May 24, with over 450 NCC cadets participating from Jabalpur and surrounding districts.
Initial investigations by district administration and health officials indicate that the primary cause of this mass illness is the extreme heat and physical exertion during training under the open sky.
Madhya Pradesh is currently experiencing severe heat, with temperatures exceeding 47 degrees Celsius in several areas in recent days. In Jabalpur specifically, the mercury has remained between 44 and 45 degrees Celsius for the past four days, creating dangerous conditions for outdoor activities.
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