100 Students Fall Ill After 'Dead Lizard' Found In Midday Meal At Odisha School

At least 100 students from the Udaynarayan Nodal School in Sirapur, Balasore district, fell ill on Thursday after consuming the school’s midday meal, officials confirmed.

The numbers of students falling ill has been increased from 24 when the news was first brought to light to 100 as of August 9, 2024, as reported by India Today.

The incident took place at Udaynarayan Nodal School in Sirapur. They were immediately transported to Soro Hospital for treatment after students exhibited symptoms including nausea and chest pain.

Students were served rice and curry for lunch. However, a student soon discovered a dead lizard in the food and the administration immediately stopped serving the meal further and instructed the students not to eat, reported India Today.

The block education officer said that those found guilty would face legal consequences in addition to an investigation.

Similar Incidents

The issue of students falling ill due to midday meals has been a recurring problem across various regions. A similar case was reported, on Wednesday, a tragic incident in eastern Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur reported the death of a 15-year-old student.

This student was among several children hospitalized two days prior due to food poisoning. Approximately 80 students from the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Ashram School in Mehroona village experienced symptoms such as stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea after consuming the school meal. Currently, 61 of these students remain hospitalized at Deoria Medical College.

(With inputs from agencies)