Over 100 Students Hospitalized in Odisha After Finding Dead Lizard in Midday Meal

On Thursday, a distressing incident unfolded at Udayanarayan Nodal School in Sirapur village, Balasore, Odisha, where more than 100 students were hospitalised following their midday meal. The meal, which included rice and curry, became a source of significant health concerns when one student discovered a dead lizard in the food.

Incident Details

The discovery led school authorities to immediately halt the distribution of the meal and instruct the students not to eat further. Despite these precautions, several students began to experience severe stomach aches and chest pains shortly after consuming the contaminated food. They were promptly transported to the nearest community health centre (CHC) using ambulances and other vehicles.

A medical team was dispatched to the school to provide initial treatment. The situation escalated as many students vomited after receiving medical care, necessitating further hospitalisation at the community health centre.

Official Responses

An education officer informed a news portal that a thorough investigation would be conducted to determine the cause of the contamination. Legal action will be taken against those found responsible for the incident.

Local MLA Madhab Dhada, along with members of the school management committee, visited the CHC to review the condition of the affected students. Dhada confirmed that the students fell ill due to the contaminated rice served as part of the midday meal programme.

Ongoing Investigation

Doctors at the community health centre reported that the affected students are receiving treatment. Additionally, a health team from the district headquarters collected rice samples from the school for testing. The objective is to identify the exact cause of the illness and prevent similar incidents in the future.

The incident has raised serious concerns about food safety and quality in school meal programmes. The authorities are under pressure to ensure that such lapses do not occur again and that appropriate measures are put in place to safeguard the health of students.