In brief
The National Human Rights Commission of India is probing an incident in Bihar where over 100 children fell ill after consuming a school meal that contained a dead snake. Reports indicate that the cook served the food even after removing the snake. The commission demands urgent reports on the health condition of the affected students.
In a shocking incident in Mokama, Bihar, more than 100 children have fallen ill after consuming a school lunch that reportedly contained a dead snake. The incident has drawn serious attention, leading the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to initiate an investigation. According to NHRC, despite the discovery of the dead snake, the cook proceeded to serve the meal, which was consumed by around 500 children. Following the incident, parents and locals expressed their outrage by blocking a nearby road in protest. The NHRC highlighted that if the reports are accurate, this situation represents a significant violation of the children's human rights. The commission has requested a comprehensive report within two weeks from local authorities that will address the health status of the affected students.The Mid-Day Meal scheme, which has been operational since 1925, aims to provide nutritious food to children from disadvantaged backgrounds and to improve school attendance. However, it has faced issues related to food quality and hygiene. Notably, a similar tragic incident in Bihar in 2013 resulted in the deaths of 23 schoolchildren due to consuming contaminated food containing toxic pesticide levels.
