1 in 6 food poisoning deaths in India reported from Telangana, second highest in country

Hyderabad: Telangana recorded 108 food poisoning deaths in 2023, accounting for 17.6 per cent of all such deaths in India, according to the Report on Medical Certification of Cause of Death (MCCD) in 2023 by the Office of the Registrar General, Ministry of Home Affairs, released on December 23, 2025.

The state ties with Uttar Pradesh for second position, trailing only Assam’s 199 deaths. One in every six food poisoning fatalities in the country happens in Telangana.

This marks a 177 per cent jump from 2022, when the state recorded 39 deaths. While India saw a slight national decline from 648 to 612 deaths, Telangana moved sharply upward.

What is MCCD?

MCCD is an official document issued by a registered medical practitioner specifying the underlying cause, antecedent causes and immediate cause of a person’s death, following World Health Organisation (WHO) standards.

It serves as a critical component of the Civil Registration System for collecting, analysing and reporting mortality statistics for public health planning.

From street food to school hostels

Street stalls and eateries across the state came under scrutiny through 2023. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and police launched multiple crackdowns on food outlets following incidents that left dozens hospitalised.

But street stalls tell only part of the story.

Government residential schools have recorded multiple incidents since 2023. Students fell ill in hostels across the districts.

Food poisoning in state’s gurukuls

It’s 2026, and the cases continue to rise. While official figures are yet to be put out for the last two years, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) flagged over 800 food poisoning cases in the state’s gurukuls, with several deaths among students.

Investigators found poor hygiene, contaminated water and insect-infested ingredients.

Meanwhile, the official data shows the gender split mirrors national patterns.

Men accounted for 96 of the 108 deaths in Telangana during 2023. Women made up the remaining 12. Across India, males represent 66 per cent of food poisoning deaths. Workers eating at roadside stalls and unregulated eateries drive this disparity.

Recent food poisoning cases in Telangana

January 31: As many as 32 students of the BC Intermediate Girls’ Hostel in Kothakota, Wanaparthy district, Telangana, fell ill after suspected food poisoning. After they complained of stomach pain and vomiting, warden Vijaya rushed them to the Kothakota Primary Health Centre (PHC) for treatment.

December 31, 2025: One person died and at least 14 others were hospitalised after reporting stomach pain and uneasiness following a community New Year celebration at Bhavani Nagar in Jagadgirigutta.

December 13, 2025: At least 60 students from various government schools in the city fell ill in two separate incidents of suspected food poisoning after consuming meals at their respective institutions.

In the first case, 44 students of the Government Primary School at Chandu Nayak Thanda in Madhapur reported illness after eating the midday meal.

In another incident, 16 students of the Telangana Minority Residential School at Bagh Lingampally fell ill with suspected food poisoning after consuming dinner.

Hyderabad's major eateries under scanner

Popular restaurants in Hyderabad faced scrutiny too. Cases linked to mandi restaurants led to multiple hospitalisations. GHMC stepped up kitchen inspections across the city.

Other states moved in different directions.

Jharkhand dropped from 121 deaths in 2022 to just 2 in 2023. Uttar Pradesh fell from 158 to 108. Bihar climbed from 157 to 199. Telangana’s 69-death increase stands out against these shifts.

What gets counted and what doesn’t?

The data tracks only medically certified deaths, which cover bacterial food poisoning, including Salmonella and other foodborne infections. The actual number of incidents runs far higher. Uncertified deaths, unreported cases and non-fatal poisonings fall outside these figures.

The gap between what gets counted and what happens on the ground remains unclear. But the certified numbers alone place Telangana in a category the state cannot ignore.

1 in every 5 typhoid deaths across India occurred in Telangana

The food poisoning numbers tell only part of the crisis.

Telangana recorded 202 typhoid and paratyphoid deaths in 2023, making it the state with the second-highest death toll from the disease, according to the same report from the Office of the Registrar General.

One in every five typhoid deaths registered across India occurred in Telangana.

The state accounted for 18.8 per cent of the nation’s 1,075 typhoid and paratyphoid deaths, a concentration that appears disproportionate for a state representing just 2.5 per cent of India’s population.

Only Uttar Pradesh, with its far larger population, recorded more deaths at 377. Punjab ranked third with 118 deaths, followed by Delhi with 36. Maharashtra, despite being India’s second most populous state, recorded only 53 deaths.

How does typhoid spread?

Typhoid spreads through contaminated food and water. The bacteria Salmonella typhi enter the body when people consume items washed with tainted water, prepared by infected food handlers who skip handwashing or stored in conditions that allow bacterial growth. Raw vegetables, undercooked meat and drinking water from compromised sources serve as common transmission routes.

The link between food poisoning and typhoid runs deeper than shared transmission pathways. Both reflect failures in the same systems: water quality, food handling practices, sanitation infrastructure and hygiene enforcement. Areas with poor food safety typically show poor water safety. Contaminated water used to wash vegetables or utensils can introduce both immediate food poisoning bacteria and typhoid organisms.