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Health
Bihar schoolchildren fall ill after detergent powder allegedly mixed in midday meal
✍️ Mid-Day
🗓 21 Aug 2026, 12:40 AM
👁 4
Several students in Bihar reported symptoms of nausea and vomiting after a midday school meal was found to contain detergent powder, prompting health officials to launch an investigation.
Multiple pupils in a Bihar government school fell sick shortly after consuming the midday meal, displaying signs of nausea, vomiting and abdominal discomfort. Preliminary tests by local health officials indicated the presence of detergent powder in the food, although the exact source has not yet been confirmed.
State health authorities have ordered a thorough inspection of the school kitchen and have sealed the meal preparation area pending further analysis. The district education officer has been directed to cooperate with the investigation and to ensure that no further meals are served until safety can be guaranteed.
The incident has revived concerns over the integrity of the Midday Meal Scheme, which feeds millions of children across the country. Officials emphasized that any contamination, intentional or accidental, is a serious breach of protocol and will attract strict punitive action.
Parents of the affected children have been urged to seek medical attention for their wards, and the health department is monitoring their condition closely. A detailed report is expected to be submitted to the state government within the next 48 hours.
State health authorities have ordered a thorough inspection of the school kitchen and have sealed the meal preparation area pending further analysis. The district education officer has been directed to cooperate with the investigation and to ensure that no further meals are served until safety can be guaranteed.
The incident has revived concerns over the integrity of the Midday Meal Scheme, which feeds millions of children across the country. Officials emphasized that any contamination, intentional or accidental, is a serious breach of protocol and will attract strict punitive action.
Parents of the affected children have been urged to seek medical attention for their wards, and the health department is monitoring their condition closely. A detailed report is expected to be submitted to the state government within the next 48 hours.