A massive health scare has erupted in the Indian state of Bihar after over a hundred schoolchildren reportedly fell ill from consuming a government-sponsored school lunch contaminated with a dead snake.
The incident, which took place in the city of Mokama, has sparked national outrage and prompted an investigation by India’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
According to the NHRC, the meal—intended for about 500 students—was served even after a snake was allegedly discovered in the food.
Shockingly, reports indicate the school’s cook simply removed the dead reptile and continued serving the meal to unsuspecting children. Shortly after eating, many of the students began showing signs of illness.
Disturbed by the event, local residents launched a protest and blocked nearby roads in anger over the perceived negligence.
The NHRC, responding swiftly, labeled the situation a serious breach of the children’s fundamental rights.
The commission is now demanding a comprehensive report from top Bihar state officials, which must include updated health information for all affected children.
This alarming episode has reignited public scrutiny of India’s Mid-Day Meal programme—a free lunch scheme designed to feed children from underprivileged backgrounds.
Although the initiative, launched as early as 1925 in Chennai, is considered one of the largest food programmes globally, it has faced criticism over food safety standards.
This isn’t the first time the programme has faced such controversy. In 2013, Bihar was also the site of a tragic food poisoning case that claimed the lives of 23 schoolchildren. Tests from that incident confirmed extremely toxic levels of pesticides in the food served.
As the investigation into the current situation unfolds, questions are being raised once again about the effectiveness of food quality monitoring and the safety of meals served to millions of Indian children every day.
