Over 100 Indian Children Sickened After Dead Snake Allegedly Found in School Lunch

 India’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has launched an investigation into alarming reports that over 100 children fell ill after consuming a school lunch in which a dead snake was allegedly discovered.

According to a statement released by the NHRC, the cook reportedly proceeded to serve the meal to approximately 500 children at a school in the city of Mokama, located in Bihar state, eastern India, even after removing the dead animal from the food.

Following the incident, as children began to exhibit symptoms of illness, local residents reportedly staged a road blockade in protest, as stated by the NHRC.

“The commission has observed that the contents, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of the human rights of the students,” the NHRC asserted in its statement. The commission has demanded a “detailed report” within two weeks from senior state officials, which must include comprehensive information regarding “the health status of the children” affected.

The free school meal program, known as the Mid-Day Meal scheme, was initially introduced in 1925 for children from disadvantaged backgrounds in the southern city of Chennai (formerly Madras). It has since grown into one of the world’s largest such initiatives, aimed at combating hunger and improving school attendance. However, the program has faced recurring complaints concerning inadequate food hygiene standards.

This incident evokes memories of a tragic event in 2013, also in Bihar state, where tainted food was implicated in the deaths of 23 schoolchildren. Scientific tests at the time reportedly detected “very toxic” levels of a pesticide in the food. For concerned parents and educators in Kumasi, news of such incidents involving school meals highlights the critical importance of food safety and hygiene for children everywhere.