In Bihar’s Nalanda district, over a dozen children became ill after allegedly being served detergent powder instead of salt in their mid-day meal. This alarming incident has triggered widespread outrage on social media, prompting several opposition parties to criticize the government for its negligence in ensuring food safety in schools.
The incident took place at Middle School in Parasi in the Noorsarai police station area, following which the affected students were taken to Biharsharif Sadar Hospital, officials said, news agency PTI reported. More than two dozen students fell ill after consuming mid-day meal at school. Civil Surgeon Dr Jay Prakash Singh visited the hospital and took stock of the students’ condition. Bihar Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar also visited the hospital and met the affected students. He also spoke to doctors about their condition.
School principal Shailendra Kumar Singh said the mid-day meal, comprising soybean rice, was supplied by an NGO as per the prescribed menu. He said all the children were out of danger. Kumar said a detailed inquiry would be conducted to ascertain how the alleged lapse occurred in the preparation and serving of the mid-day meal. Earlier this month, two teachers, including the headmaster of a primary school, were suspended in Uttar Pradesh’s Hardoi after an inquiry substantiated complaints about the poor quality of the mid-day meals served to students, officials said.
The investigation found irregularities in the arrangements for serving the mid-day meal and confirmed concerns over the quality of the food, according to officials.
