Cook adds detergent, not salt, in Bihar mid-day meal; many students hospitalised

An incident occurred on Tuesday at a government school in Nalanda district, Bihar, where over two dozen students fell ill after consuming their mid-day meal. Officials have revealed that the meal, which included soybean rice, was prepared by a cook who mistakenly added detergent powder instead of salt. The error is believed to have been made due to the cook confusing the containers of salt and detergent powder, which were placed together in the kitchen.

As a result, several students started experiencing dizziness and vomiting. They were first given basic medical attention at the school premises but were subsequently transferred to Biharsharif Sadar Hospital for further treatment. The affected students are now reportedly out of danger, according to Dr Jay Prakash Singh, the Civil Surgeon who visited the hospital.

Upon hearing about the incident, Bihar Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar also visited the hospital and met with the affected students. He expressed his concern over the matter and assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted to determine the cause of this lapse in the preparation and serving of the mid-day meal.