The Nalanda district administration on Wednesday suspended the headmaster of a government school and issued show-cause notices to several officials, including the district programme officer of the mid-day meal scheme, after around three dozen students fell ill after eating a mid-day meal allegedly contaminated with detergent.
“In our initial probe, it has come out the cooks were responsible for the lapse and had added detergent in the food by mistaking it for salt. The probe team comprises the sub-divisional officer and sub-divisional police officer of Bihar Sharif, the district education officer and the head of Noorsarai primary health centre. Bihar rural development minister Shravan Kumar visited the hospital and met the affected students. The containers of salt and detergent powder were reportedly kept at the same place in the kitchen, leading the cook to allegedly mistake detergent for salt and add it to the food. “It is a major lapse and we have already showcaused officials associated with monitoring of the mid-day meal at the block and district level.
Earlier reporting noted: 35 Bihar students hospitalised after detergent allegedly mistaken for salt in mid-day meal 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.
Three cooks, at Middle School in Parasi in the Noorsarai police station area, who prepared the meal have also been dismissed, district education officer Nalanda Hem Raj said, adding, a four-member team has been formed to probe the incident. All the three cooks have been dismissed and the headmaster of the middle school Shailendra Kumar has been put under suspension,” Raj said. It is likely to submit its report to Nalanda magistrate Udita Singh within three days, officials aware of the matter said. Officials said some students had already eaten when others complained that the food did not contain enough salt. “The block education officer, Noorsarai has been asked to lodge an FIR regarding the incident,” Raj said. Action would be taken once the probe committee report comes,” said a senior state education department official. Earlier reporting noted: 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. Earlier reporting noted: 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.
