At least 34 kids from Parsa Middle School in Bihar’s Nalanda district landed in hospital Tuesday after eating a midday meal allegedly tainted with detergent powder instead of salt. Students reported burning throats and stomach pain,sparking urgent medical response.
Panic swept the school as the affected children were rushed to a government hospital in Biharsharif. Nalanda Civil Surgeon Jai Prakash Singh said it was food poisoning but assured everyone they were stable. “All will be fine,” he said.
Priti Kumari,one of the students, said meal had rice and a potato-soybean dish . She noticed a strong detergent smell, which she believed caused the stomach issues . “Instead of salt,detergent powder seemed to be used. Many students fainted after eating,” she said.
Rajveer Kumar, whose daughter was hospitalized, described the scene at the hospital . “When I got there, children were vomiting; many even collapsed,” he said, highlighting the severity.
Headmaster Shailendra Kumar Singh said a kitchen staff mistake was to blame. A cook accidentally served detergent powder when kids asked for salt. “The meal comes from an NGO,” he added.
But District Education Officer Hemchandra dismissed claims of detergent being mixed in. He said an investigation is underway,awaiting medical reports to determine the illness cause. He promised tough action against those responsible.
Nalanda MLA Shrawon Kumar,also the Rural Development Minister,visited the hospital. After speaking with doctors and meeting the kids, he promised a thorough investigation to find out what went wrong with the meal prep. “No compromise on children’s health,” he stressed, highlighting the importance of midday meal scheme.
Kumar urged parents to stay calm,assuring them of the government’s commitment to their kids' safety. He ordered surprise checks on meal setups in all district schools and hygiene training for kitchen staff.
As probe continues, focus stays on the health and safety of these kids . The community and parents are left to grapple with what this incident means, highlighting the need for accountability in school meal prep.
