At least 35 students of a government school in Bihar's Nalanda district were hospitalised after detergent powder was allegedly mistaken for salt and served with their mid-day meal, prompting authorities to launch an investigation into the incident. The incident took place at Middle School, Parasi, in the Noorsarai area on Tuesday. Soon after eating the meal, several students complained of health problems, including vomiting, dizziness and abdominal discomfort, following which they were taken to Biharsharif Sadar Hospital.
Officials said the affected children were stable and out of danger following treatment. Reports have given varying figures for the number of students affected, ranging from 34 to 40. The Hindustan Times reported at least 35 hospitalisations, while other accounts put the figure at 36.
Detergent allegedly mistaken for salt
According to school authorities, the mid-day meal had been supplied by an NGO and included rice and soybean-based food in accordance with the prescribed menu. The problem allegedly arose after some students who had begun eating complained that their food did not contain enough salt.
Local accounts suggested that containers of salt and detergent powder had been kept close to each other. A cook allegedly picked up the detergent instead of salt and added it to the food. A separate account from the school headmaster suggested the mix-up occurred after a student asked for additional salt during a later sitting of the meal. Other students subsequently also asked for salt and were allegedly given the detergent powder before the mistake was detected. The exact sequence of events is expected to be examined as part of the official inquiry.
Students complain of vomiting, dizziness
The children began reporting discomfort soon after consuming the food. Some complained of dizziness and vomiting, while others reported pain or a burning sensation in their throat and stomach. They were initially provided first aid at the school, but were shifted to hospital when their symptoms persisted.
Nalanda Civil Surgeon Dr Jai Prakash Singh visited the hospital and reviewed the children's condition. Officials said none of the students was in danger. The incident caused concern among parents, several of whom rushed to the hospital after learning that their children had fallen ill.
Minister promises detailed inquiry
Bihar Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar also visited the hospital and met the affected students.
He assured families that a detailed inquiry would be conducted to establish how the alleged mix-up occurred and determine responsibility for the lapse.
The investigation is expected to examine food handling and storage practices at the school, including how detergent and edible ingredients came to be kept in circumstances where one could allegedly be mistaken for the other.
Questions are also likely to be raised over supervision while meals were being distributed to students and whether prescribed food-safety procedures were being followed.
Food safety under scanner
The incident has once again put the spotlight on safety and monitoring mechanisms surrounding school meals.
The alleged error appears particularly serious because it involved a non-food substance being accessible alongside ingredients used for meals served to children.
While all the affected students are reported to be stable, authorities will now have to establish whether the incident resulted solely from an individual mistake or reflected broader failures in storage, handling and supervision.
The inquiry is also expected to determine whether action should be taken against those responsible for preparing, handling or distributing the meal.
For families of the affected children, the immediate relief is that no serious casualties have been reported. The larger question for authorities is how such an elementary mix-up could occur in a programme where food is routinely served to schoolchildren.