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.
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. The issue came to light after a video showing students being served the mid-day meal at the school circulated widely on social media.
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. Following the video’s emergence, the Basic Education Department ordered an inquiry, according to PTI . Earlier reporting noted: The incident happened at Middle School in Parasi in the Noorsarai police station area, following which the affected students were taken to Biharsharif Sadar Hospital, they said. Earlier reporting noted: He said all the children were out of danger.
Earlier reporting noted: Cook adds detergent, not salt, in Bihar mid-day meal; many students hospitalised More than two dozen students fell ill after allegedly consuming a mid-day meal at a government school in Bihar’s Nalanda district on Tuesday, officials said.
