Thirty-four students at a government middle school in Bihar’s Nalanda district fell ill after consuming a midday meal that was allegedly prepared with detergent powder instead of salt. The incident took place at Parsa Middle School on August 18, when children who had eaten the meal began complaining of a burning sensation in their throats, stomach pain, dizziness, and vomiting. According to local reports, the cook is believed to have mistakenly added detergent because it was stored near the salt container in the school’s kitchen. The affected students were first given medical assistance at the school before being shifted to Sadar Hospital for further treatment.

The midday meal, consisting of rice and a potato-soybean curry, was supplied by a non-governmental organisation under the prescribed school nutrition programme. While the school principal stated that the detergent was added accidentally, the District Education Officer said the exact cause of the students’ illness would only be confirmed after receiving the hospital’s medical report. Officials have launched an investigation and assured that strict action will be taken against anyone found responsible for negligence in the preparation or serving of the meal.

Health officials later confirmed that the students were out of danger after receiving treatment. Nalanda Civil Surgeon Dr. Jay Prakash Singh described the incident as a case of food poisoning, while Bihar Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar visited the hospital to meet the affected children and review their condition with doctors. The state government has ordered a detailed inquiry into the incident to determine how the alleged lapse occurred and to ensure stronger safety measures in the school midday meal programme to prevent similar incidents in the future.