Over Two Dozen Children Fall Ill After Contaminated Mid-Day Meal in Bihar

A troubling incident occurred at Parasi Middle School in Bihar, where more than two dozen children fell ill after consuming a Mid-Day Meal tainted with detergent. The children experienced vomiting and dizziness, leading to their hospitalization. Concerns have been raised regarding the emergency response from local healthcare services, as families reported inadequate arrangements at the hospital. This incident has sparked a broader discussion about the monitoring of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme and the preparedness of the health department in emergencies. Read on to learn more about this alarming situation and its implications.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 19, 2026, 13:16 IST

Incident at Parasi Middle School

Source: @MahuaMoitraFans/X

Patna, Aug 19: On Tuesday, over twenty children became ill after consuming their Mid-Day Meal at Parasi Middle School, located in the Noorsarai police station area. The situation turned alarming when students reported symptoms of vomiting and dizziness, which were attributed to detergent powder mistakenly added to their food by the cook.

All affected children were promptly taken to Bihar Sharif Sadar Hospital for medical attention.

Dr. Jayaprakash Singh, the Civil Surgeon, visited the hospital to assess the children's condition and confirmed that they were no longer in danger.

According to Shailendra Kumar Singh, the principal of the school, the meal served that day included rice and a soybean dish.

After a complaint regarding the lack of salt in the meal, the cook accidentally added Surf detergent instead of salt, as both were stored in the same area of the kitchen.

Shortly after consuming the meal, the children began to exhibit symptoms of vomiting and dizziness. Initial first aid was administered at the school, but due to the worsening condition of the children, they were transported to Sadar Hospital.

As a large number of children arrived at the hospital, their relatives also gathered, expressing concerns over the hospital's inadequate facilities, with reports of multiple patients being treated on a single bed.

This situation led to a brief uproar, which subsided after the Civil Surgeon assured families of improved medical care.

The incident has sparked concerns regarding the Health Department's readiness for emergencies.

Family members criticized the lack of response from local healthcare services, noting that no ambulance was dispatched from Noorsarai Hospital, nor did a medical team arrive at the school despite being notified of the situation.

Due to the absence of ambulances, families resorted to using e-rickshaws and tempos to transport the children to the hospital.

They argued that timely intervention from an ambulance and medical personnel could have provided immediate care to the children.

This incident raises serious concerns about the oversight of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme and the local healthcare system's emergency response in Bihar.