Bihar: 70 Students Hospitalised After Lizard Found In Mid-Day Meal; Kids Allege Being Beaten And Forced To Eat

In a distressing incident at the Upgraded Middle School, Karu Tola Sahugarh, more than 70 students fell ill after consuming a Mid-Day Meal (MDM). The incident sparked chaos as panicked parents and local residents rushed the children to the Sadar Hospital.

A Scene Of Chaos And Panic

The hospital’s emergency ward witnessed heart-wrenching scenes as mothers carried their unconscious children, weeping and pleading for help. Due to the sudden influx of patients, hospital staff had to accommodate up to four children per bed to begin immediate treatment. While most students stabilised after two hours of intensive care, one female student whose condition worsened had to be shifted to the ICU.

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Allegations Of Negligence And Force

According to the recovering students, the cause of the food poisoning was a dead lizard found in the container used to serve the khichdi. Shortly after eating, the children began experiencing nausea, stomach pain, and extreme restlessness.

Shockingly, a fourth-grade student named Gopal Kumar alleged that students were being forced to eat the meal. He claimed that a teacher, identified as Sandeep Sir, would use a stick to beat those who refused to consume the food.

Administrative Response And Investigation

The Mid-Day Meal is supplied to the school through an NGO named Paras Agro. Upon realizing the gravity of the situation, the school administration alerted both the Education and Health departments, leading to the dispatch of ambulances and private vehicles for the rescue.

District Education Officer (DEO) Sanjay Kumar visited the hospital to monitor the situation and interact with the families. Key updates from the administration include:

Current Status: Most students are out of danger and stable, including the student in the ICU who is showing signs of improvement.

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Probing The NGO: A formal investigation has been launched into the negligence of the NGO responsible for the food supply.

Comprehensive Audit: The DEO stated that the quality, supply chain and distribution process would be thoroughly scrutinised.

Strict Action: Authorities have assured parents that anyone found guilty of playing with the lives of the children will face severe legal consequences.

Public Outrage

The incident has once again put the spotlight on the poor quality of Mid-Day Meals and the lack of proper monitoring systems. Angry parents gathered in large numbers at the hospital, demanding the immediate cancellation of the NGO's contract and stricter safety protocols to protect their children in the future