Puri: As many as 32 school children fell ill after consuming a mid-day meal at Aragad Government Upper Primary School under Delanga block of Odisha’s Puri district.
According to sources, students spotted a dead lizard in the food served as part of the school’s mid-day meal scheme. Shortly thereafter, several children began experiencing severe stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. The affected students were immediately rushed to the nearby Delanga Community Health Centre (CHC). Six students were later shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital in Puri as their health condition deteriorated.
Local health officials confirmed that most students are stable following prompt medical interventions, including IV fluids and medication, and their conditions are being continuously monitored.
As the news of the incident began to spread, anxious parents and relatives rushed to both the school and the Delanga hospital. Tensions flared outside the medical facility as frustrated parents voiced strong anger over the negligence by the school authorities and demanded strict action against those responsible, including the teachers and the cook involved in preparing the food.
Meanwhile, educational and local administrative authorities have taken serious note of the incident. An inquiry into the matter has been ordered. Officials also assured that strict guidelines regarding food preparation and quality checks will be enforced to prevent similar safety lapses in the future.