Over 100 Students Hospitalized After Eating School Meal Contaminated by Snake; Teachers Flee as Indian Authorities Launch Investigation

Food Containing a Dead Snake Served as School Meal
Students Testify: "We Refused to Eat, but Were Forced"
National Human Rights Commission of India Launches Investigation

Stock photo unrelated to the article content. Pexels

More than 100 students at a school in India experienced symptoms of dizziness and vomiting after eating a school meal from which a snake had been removed, prompting authorities to launch an investigation.

According to Indian media outlet Business Standard on May 2, more than 100 students at Upkramit Madhya Vidyalaya, a public school in Mekhara village, Mokama block, Bihar state, reported discomfort after eating lunch on April 25. Around 20 students were rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment.

According to reports, school officials discovered a dead snake in the food but removed it and still served the meal to students. Some students refused to eat the contaminated food, but it is reported that they were forced to eat it under pressure from the school. The outlet stated, "After the meal was served, teachers locked the school doors and fled, leaving the students unattended."

This led to a state of panic at the school for some time, and it was only after police arrived that students could be transported to medical facilities.

There were concerns that the meal might have been contaminated with snake venom or other toxins, but medical staff reportedly found no traces of toxic substances in the students' bodies.

District Magistrate Subham Kumar stated, "We are investigating every detail and will take appropriate action based on the results of the investigation."

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), an independent body under the Indian government, has classified this incident as "serious" and launched its own investigation. The NHRC stated, "It is reported that the cook served food from which a dead snake had been removed to the children," and added, "If this is confirmed to be true, it will be a serious violation of the students' human rights."

Meanwhile, India operates the world's largest free school meal program as a way to improve students' nutrition and support continued education.

However, in 2013, a tragedy occurred in the Saran area of Bihar state, where a school meal contaminated with pesticides was served, resulting in the deaths of at least 23 students. Following this, the government improved safety standards.