40 Schoolchildren Poisoned After Detergent Mixed Into Mid-Day Meal

Approximately 40 schoolgirls were hospitalized after consuming contaminated food during the mid-day meal scheme at Parsi Middle School in Nalanda district on Wednesday. The incident occurred when detergent powder was mistakenly distributed in place of salt during meal preparation, exposing the children to the toxic substance. All affected students were admitted to Bihar Sharif Model Hospital, where medical staff have begun treatment for poisoning-related symptoms. The children's conditions are being closely monitored by healthcare workers. State Minister Shravan Kumar said stern action would be taken against those responsible for the grave lapses in food safety protocols. The incident has raised fresh concerns about oversight mechanisms in the mid-day meal scheme, a flagship government nutrition program serving millions of schoolchildren across India. Authorities have launched an investigation into how the mix-up occurred and whether proper safety procedures were being followed during meal preparation.