Bihar School Mid-Day Meal Horror: 34 Children Hospitalised After Detergent Allegedly Served Instead of Salt

A total of 34 children were rushed to hospital after eating a mid-day meal at a government school in Nalanda district in Bihar, where detergent powder was used instead of salt. The incident reportedly occurred after students asked for additional salt with their food. The children were said to be stable and out of danger.

The incident took place at a government school in the district, where detergent powder and salt were reportedly kept close to each other. The report said the substances were allegedly mixed up during preparation of the meal, which led to the addition of detergent to the food served to the students.

After the meal the children complained of discomfort and were rushed to the hospital for treatment. Some students reported symptoms such as burning throat and stomach pain, reports said. All 34 children were later reported to be stable and not in danger.

The incident has led to concerns about the safety and handling of food in government schools, especially when food is prepared for many children. The closeness of detergent and salt has also raised concerns about the storage of cleaning products and food ingredients in school kitchens.

Police are now investigating how the mix-up happened and if the school followed proper food-safety and storage protocols. The investigation will be used to determine how detergent powder ended up in the meal and if there was any negligence.

The incident has also brought back the issue of the protection that needs to be provided to the mid-day meals in government schools. Proper storage, preparation and supervision are important for ensuring student safety as such meals are provided under the country's school nutrition programme for children.

The health of the children has been the immediate concern of the affected families. The students were not in immediate danger after receiving medical care, officials said, and authorities are still investigating what caused the contamination.

The next steps will be based on the results of the Nalanda school mid-day meal incident inquiry.