At least 34 children fall ill after detergent served instead of salt in Bihar school’s midday meal

At the very least 34 youngsters of Parsa Center College in Bihar’s Nalanda district fell in poor health after consuming a noon meal during which detergent powder was allegedly served as a substitute of salt “by mistake”.

After consuming the meal on Tuesday (August 18, 2026), the kids complained of a burning sensation of their throats and abdomen ache, inflicting panic throughout the college premises. All the kids have been then rushed to the federal government hospital in Biharsharif.

Nalanda Civil Surgeon Jai Prakash Singh mentioned that it was a case of meals poisoning. “The well being situation of all the kids is secure. All might be tremendous,” he added.

Priti Kumari, who was a type of hospitalised, informed the native press that they have been served rice together with a potato-soybean vegetable dish. After consuming the meals, she smelled detergent powder within the noon meal. “As an alternative of salt, it appeared detergent powder was used within the meals, resulting in abdomen ache. Many college students went unconscious after consuming the meals.”

One dad or mum, Rajveer Kumar, who went to see his daughter (Chandni Kumar) on the Biharsharif Sadar Hospital, Nalanda, mentioned, “I acquired the details about the kids being hospitalised after consuming a mid-day meal. After I reached the hospital, I noticed youngsters have been vomiting; many even fell.”

Detergent powder served ‘by mistake’; Nalanda DEO dismisses claims

Headmaster of the college, Shailendra Kumar Singh, mentioned that the workers served detergent powder as a substitute of salt “by mistake”.

“Out of three cooks within the kitchen, one feminine cook dinner was feeding the kids, and some youngsters demanded salt, and by mistake, the workers served detergent powder as a substitute of salt. The noon meal is provided by an NGO,” Mr. Singh mentioned.

Nonetheless, Nalanda’s District Schooling Officer (DEO) Hemchandra categorically dismissed the claims of the households and youngsters that detergent was combined into the meals.

He asserted {that a} thorough investigation is below method and that the precise explanation for the kids’s sickness will solely come to mild as soon as the medical report is acquired from the hospital.

He additionally issued a warning saying that strict motion can be taken towards these discovered responsible on this matter. He asserted that authorized and departmental motion can be taken towards them.

Minister’s go to to hospital

Nalanda MLA Shrawon Kumar, who can be the Rural Growth Division Minister, visited the Biharsharif Sadar Hospital and met the hospitalised youngsters to inquire about their situation, consulted the medical doctors concerning their well being standing, and issued directions to make sure they acquired the absolute best therapy.

After assembly the kids, Mr. Kumar mentioned {that a} thorough investigation can be performed to find out precisely the place the lapse occurred whereas serving the noon meal. He assured that strict motion can be taken towards any personnel discovered responsible throughout the inquiry.

He asserted that there can be no compromise concerning the kids’s well being. Noting that the noon meal scheme is important for each the diet and training of youngsters, he acknowledged that negligence on this matter wouldn’t be tolerated.

Mr. Kumar additionally urged dad and mom to not panic, assuring them that the federal government stands with their youngsters. The Minister directed officers to conduct shock inspections of noon meal preparations in all faculties throughout the district and to offer coaching on cleanliness and hygiene to the cooks.