More than 30 students fell sick after allegedly consuming a school meal containing detergent powder in Bihar’s Nalanda district on Tuesday (18 Aug).
The students were taken to Biharsharif Sadar Hospital after experiencing symptoms including dizziness and vomiting.
According to school principal Shailendra Kumar Singh, the meal served that day was soybean rice supplied by a non-governmental organisation (NGO) as part of the government’s prescribed mid-day meal programme.
Some students complained that the food lacked enough salt and requested more of it.
The cook is suspected of accidentally picking up the detergent powder instead of salt and adding it to the meal.
Source: habelfrank on Pixabay, for illustration purposes only.
Residents alleged that salt and detergent powder were stored together in the school kitchen.
CNBC TV 18 reported that 17 boys and 17 girls experienced stomach pain and vomiting shortly after eating the food.
Meanwhile, India Today claims that 40 students were hospitalised.
They were initially given treatment at the school before being taken to hospital when their symptoms continued.
Civil Surgeon Dr Jay Prakash Singh visited the hospital to assess the affected students and said they were all in stable condition and out of danger.
Source: Hindustan Times
The meal was reportedly served to 132 students. Two cooks and two teachers tested it before serving.
Officials confirmed that food samples are being analysed to determine the cause of the illness.
Bihar Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar also visited the hospital and met the students. He spoke with doctors about their condition.
The minister also stressed the importance of maintaining strict care during the preparation and serving of school meals.
He said a detailed investigation would be carried out to determine how the alleged mix-up happened and whether there were any lapses in the preparation or distribution of the school meal.
Family members gathered at the hospital, closely monitoring the students’ condition.
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Featured image adapted from Hindustan Times and habelfrank on Pixabay, for illustration purposes only.