Over 250 Children Fall Ill After Consuming Mid-Day Meal in Bihar’s Saharsa

Patna: A major health scare was reported from Bihar’s Saharsa district on Thursday after more than 250 children allegedly fell ill following the consumption of a mid-day meal at the Government Middle School in Baluaha under Mahishi block.

According to reports, soon after eating the meal, several students started complaining of stomach pain, vomiting, dizziness, and uneasiness, creating panic on the school campus. The sudden deterioration in the children’s health led to chaos among teachers, parents, and local residents.

All the affected students were immediately rushed to the Mahishi Health Centre, where they are currently undergoing treatment under the supervision of doctors and medical staff. The large number of children arriving at the hospital caused heavy crowding, while health workers remained engaged in providing treatment and monitoring the situation.

Rohit Kumar, a Class 5 student, said rice and lentils were served during the mid-day meal around 10 a.m. He claimed that shortly after eating the food, he experienced severe stomach pain, vomiting, and dizziness. Another student, Shivani of Class 7, also said several children began falling sick soon after having the meal.

Following information about the incident, officials from the district administration and the Health Department reached the area to assess the situation. Civil Surgeon Dr. Rajnarayan Prasad, along with other health officials, visited Mahishi and reviewed the treatment arrangements for the affected students.

Officials stated that the condition of all children is currently stable and under control, appealing to parents not to panic. However, the incident has sparked concern and anger among local residents and parents regarding the quality and safety of food being served under the mid-day meal scheme.

The administration has launched an investigation into the incident, and food samples from the mid-day meal are being sent for laboratory testing to determine the exact cause of the suspected food poisoning.

Civil Surgeon Dr. Rajnarayan Prasad confirmed that cases of suspected food poisoning had been reported and said all affected children are receiving proper treatment. He added that students with comparatively serious symptoms were referred to Saharsa Sadar Hospital for advanced medical care.

Officials have maintained that all children are now out of danger, though the incident has once again raised serious questions over food safety standards in government school mid-day meal programmes.

With inputs from IANS