More than 150 students enrolled at a government school in Bihar’s Saharsa district were taken ill on Thursday after a ‘baby snake’ was allegedly found in a mid-day meal served at the institution, officials reported on Friday. The shocking lapse in food safety has pushed the state again into a mid-day meal scare. Officials said the incident occurred in Baluaha village, sending a wave of panic among parents and raising serious concerns over the implementation of the government-led school meal scheme.

As per officials, approximately 115 children were admitted to Sadar Hospital, while 50 others received treatment at the Mahishi Public Health Centre.

Children complain of stomach pain, vomit after consuming meal

The incident reportedly came to light on Thursday after several students consumed the mid-day meal and began experiencing stomach pain soon after, with many of them even vomiting. Reports claim 545 students were present at the school, of which 200 had already eaten the meal when the alleged contamination was noticed.

The family members of some affected kids claimed that a baby snake was spotted inside the container used to store cooked pulses. The allegation has raised fears among locals, though authorities have urged caution until an official confirmation is received.

District Magistrate responds

The District Magistrate (DM) of Saharsa, Deepesh Kumar said that the affected kids were initially treated at a primary health centre before several of them were referred to the Sadar Hospital for further care.

He said, “Most of the children are said to be stable and are showing signs of improvement. There is no need to panic. Some have mild fever and are being treated accordingly.” Meanwhile, officials have collected food samples from the institute, and have sent them for laboratory testing. Authorities said conclusions in the incident will only be drawn after the test results arrive.

The school administration, upon noticing the students’ health deteriorate, alerted the local police and healthcare services immediately. The cops rushed to the scene and lent contribution in rushing the affected students to nearby medical facilities.