At least 35 students fell ill after consuming a mid-day meal at a government school in Bihar’s Nalanda district, following which they were hospitalised, officials said on Wednesday.
It is reported that detergent was added instead of salt to the food…” he told ANI. 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. Earlier reporting noted: The Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday reacted to the incident and called it “shameful.
Bihar rural development minister Shravan Kumar visited the hospital and met the affected students. He also spoke to the doctors regarding the students’ condition. Some students also felt dizzy and began vomiting. “All the children were suffering from stomach pain and vomiting. Consequently, they were transferred here, and a medical team immediately began their treatment. Dr Singh added that samples of the meal served had been collected, but there is no confirmation on the cause yet. The containers of both salt and detergent powder had reportedly been kept at the same place in the kitchen, owing to which the cook allegedly mistook the detergent for salt and added it to the food, PTI cited locals as saying. Over a dozen children fell ill at a school in Bihar’s Nalanda after being allegedly fed detergent powder instead of salt in their mid-day meal. The incident sparked massive outrage online, with several Opposition parties attacking the government.
Taking to X, the official handle of the party noted that when students in Nalanda, Bihar asked for salt in their mid-day meal, they were given detergent powder due to which 35 students were rushed to the hospital.
The incident took place at Middle School in Parasi in the Noorsarai police station area, and the affected students were hospitalised at the Bihar Sharif Sadar Hospital, Dr Jayaprakash Singh, civil surgeon, Nalanda, told ANI news agency. Meanwhile, some others were receiving treatment at Chandi and Andarsarai, Dr Singh said. The civil surgeon visited the hospital and took stock of the situation, according to PTI news agency. He said that all students receiving treatment at Sadar Hospital, Chandi and Andarsari were out of danger. The minister said a detailed inquiry would be conducted to identify the lapse in the preparation. Dr Singh said the students had complained of stomach pain after consuming their meal, adding that detergent was allegedly added to their food instead of salt. The principal of the school, Shailendra Kumar Singh, said the mid-day meal, comprising soybean rice, had been served to the students by an NGO as per the prescribed menu. He said the matter will be examined by the food inspector. Some students had already eaten the food when others said the food lacked salt, according to the PTI report.
Earlier reporting noted: AAP attacks govt after detergent fed to students in Bihar mid-day meal: ‘What could be more shameful? Earlier reporting noted: More than two dozen students fell ill after consuming mid-day meal at school.
