Bihar: 34 Children Hospitalised After Midday Meal, Detergent Powder Allegedly Served as Salt

At least 34 children of Parsa Middle School in Bihar's Nalanda district were hospitalised on Tuesday (August 18, 2026) after consuming a midday meal that allegedly contained detergent powder instead of salt. The children began experiencing a burning sensation in their throats and severe stomach pain soon after eating, triggering panic within the school premises.

All affected students were rushed to the government hospital in Biharsharif. Nalanda Civil Surgeon Jai Prakash Singh described the incident as a case of food poisoning. “The health condition of all the children is stable. All will be fine,” he said.

School headmaster Shailendra Kumar Singh said the staff had served detergent powder in place of salt by mistake. “Out of three cooks in the kitchen, one female cook was feeding the children, and a few children demanded salt, and by mistake, the staff served detergent powder instead of salt. The midday meal is supplied by an NGO,” he said.

Prity Kumari, one of the hospitalised students, told local media that the meal consisted of rice and a potato-soybean dish. “After eating the food, I smelled detergent powder in the midday meal. Instead of salt, it seemed detergent powder was used in the food, leading to stomach pain. Many students went unconscious after eating the food,” she said.

Rajveer Kumar, whose daughter Chandni was hospitalised, said, “I got the information about the children being hospitalised after eating a midday meal. When I reached the hospital, I saw children were vomiting; many even fell.”

However, Nalanda's District Education Officer (DEO), Hemchandra, categorically dismissed the claims that detergent was mixed into the food. He said a thorough investigation is underway and the actual cause of the children's illness will only be confirmed after the medical report is received from the hospital. He warned that strict legal and departmental action would be taken against anyone found guilty.

Local MLA and Rural Development Minister Shrawan Kumar visited the Biharsharif Sadar Hospital to meet the affected children. He consulted doctors about their health status and issued instructions to ensure they receive the best possible treatment. Mr. Kumar said a thorough investigation would be conducted to determine exactly where the lapse occurred while serving the midday meal.

The minister assured there would be no compromise regarding the children's health and that negligence would not be tolerated. He urged parents not to panic, adding that the government stands with the affected families. He also directed officials to conduct surprise inspections of midday meal arrangements in all schools across the district and to provide training on cleanliness and hygiene to the cooks.

The midday meal scheme is a key government programme aimed at improving nutrition and school attendance. Officials have stated that accountability will be ensured in this case, and strict action will follow the investigation.