12 Primary School Pupils Hospitalised After Eating Contaminated Meal in Bihar

In a rural school of Katara Panchayat, Sultanganj, twelve pupils were rushed to the community health centre after developing acute abdominal distress from a Mid‑Day Meal that contained a dead lizard’s tail. The incident occurred at Azad Nagar Primary School during the regular Friday lunch service.

Eyewitnesses reported that children began to complain of sharp stomach pain and vomiting shortly after taking bites of rice. Panic spread as parents arrived in droves, demanding immediate medical attention for their children. Block Development Officer Prateek Raj responded quickly, arranging ambulance transport for the ailing students. Medical staff at the health centre administered anti‑emetics and rehydration therapy, stabilising the children and averting any fatalities.

The catering agency’s transport vehicle was surrounded by angry villagers who accused the provider of extreme carelessness. Residents recalled a similar grievance from four months prior, when allegedly substandard meals were dumped into a local pond as a form of protest, indicating a pattern of dissatisfaction with the agency’s service.

The school’s acting headmistress confirmed that the principal was on leave at the time of the event. The Block Development Officer announced a thorough investigation, promising that any negligence uncovered will result in legal action.