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Key Points

Over 80 children in Bihar's Supaul district fell ill after eating a mid-day meal allegedly made with rotten rice. The students suffered vomiting and stomach pain, with 18 kept under observation at a local health center. Parents accused the headmaster of forcing children to eat the contaminated khichdi despite objections. This incident highlights persistent food safety failures in Bihar's school meal program.

Key Points: 80 Bihar Children Fall Ill After Eating Mid-Day Meal in Supaul

  • 80 children hospitalized with food poisoning symptoms in Supaul
  • FIR registered as probe begins into contaminated mid-day meal
  • Parents allege HM forced kids to eat worm-infested khichdi
  • Bihar's recurring mid-day meal safety lapses raise concerns
2 min read

Bihar: 80 children fall ill after eating mid-day meals in Supaul

Over 80 children hospitalized in Supaul after consuming contaminated mid-day meals, sparking outrage and calls for stricter food safety checks.

"The cook refused to prepare khichdi using the rice, but it was made under pressure from the HM. – Parent at CHC"

Patna, June 28

A case of food poisoning has appeared at Madhya Vidyalaya Shankarpatti in Chhatapur block, Supaul, where around 80 children fell ill after consuming the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) on Saturday, creating panic among parents and residents.

The children, who complained of stomach ache, vomiting, headache, and nausea, were rushed to the Community Health Centre (CHC), Chhatapur, where they were treated with saline and medication.

“The health of the children has deteriorated due to food poisoning. An FIR is being registered in the matter at the BEO level. Whoever is found guilty in the investigation, appropriate action will be taken,” said BDO Dr. Rakesh Gupta, who reached the CHC with CO Rakesh Kumar and Station In charge Krishna Kumar Singh to oversee the situation.

According to CHC in-charge Dr. Naveen Kumar, the condition of most children is now stable, with around 18 children kept under medical observation.

Medical officers, ANMs, and health workers continued treatment throughout the day, while anxious parents and local representatives gathered at the CHC to check on the children.

Several children alleged that the khichdi prepared under the MDM was made using rotten rice containing worms and larvae. They claimed that Headmaster Harishchandra Kumar forced them to eat the khichdi, threatening them with a ladle when they tried to leave without eating.

“The cook had refused to prepare khichdi using the rice, but it was prepared under pressure from the HM. After consuming it, children started falling ill within half an hour,” alleged a parent outside the CHC.

BDO Dr. Rakesh Gupta has confirmed food poisoning and assured that a detailed investigation has been initiated.

Food poisoning incidents related to mid-day meal schemes continue to surface in Bihar, highlighting the urgent need for stricter quality checks on food grains and implementation at the school level to ensure the safety of children.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
As someone from Bihar, I'm not surprised. Corruption in the mid-day meal scheme is an open secret. The contractors supply substandard grains and pocket the money meant for quality food. When will our leaders wake up and fix this?
A
Aman W
The cook deserves praise for refusing to cook with rotten rice. Shows how frontline workers often know what's right but are pressured by superiors. Hope the investigation doesn't just stop at the headmaster but goes up the chain to the suppliers.
S
Sarah B
While the situation is terrible, let's not generalize. Many schools implement the mid-day meal scheme properly. The focus should be on better monitoring systems - maybe blockchain tracking for food grains from farm to school?
K
Karthik V
This happens every other month in Bihar! Our children's lives are at risk. The government must implement surprise checks by independent agencies and involve parents in quality monitoring. Enough is enough!
N
Neha E
As a mother, this news makes me sick to my stomach. How can anyone be so cruel to force children to eat worm-infested food? The headmaster should face criminal charges. Praying for the speedy recovery of all affected kids 🙏
D
David E
This is a systemic failure. The mid-day meal scheme

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