In a shocking incident in Mokama, Bihar, more than 100 children became ill after consuming a school meal tainted with a dead snake. The NHRC has demanded an investigation, highlighting severe human rights concerns.
Over 100 Children Fall Ill in India After Dead Snake Found in School Meal
Over 100 Children Fall Ill in India After Dead Snake Found in School Meal
The National Human Rights Commission is investigating a distressing incident in Bihar where a dead snake was discovered in a school lunch served to over 500 students.
In a troubling development from India, reports have emerged that more than 100 children fell ill after being served a school lunch that contained a dead snake. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has stepped in to investigate this alarming situation, which reportedly occurred in the city of Mokama, located in the eastern state of Bihar.
According to a statement issued by the NHRC, it is alleged that the cook continued to serve the meal even after removing the dead snake from it. Approximately 500 children are believed to have partaken in the contaminated lunch. Following the illness of numerous students, local residents took to the streets, blocking a major road in protest against the incident.
The NHRC expressed concern over what they termed a serious violation of the students' human rights and has instructed state officials to submit a "detailed report" within two weeks regarding the health status of the affected children. The school meal scheme in India, known as the Mid-Day Meal, was initiated in 1925 to provide free meals to children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. While successful in increasing school attendance and combating hunger, this initiative has faced criticisms concerning food hygiene standards.
This isn't the first time Bihar has faced scrutiny over the safety of its school meals; in 2013, a tragic incident involving tainted food led to the death of 23 schoolchildren in the same state due to identified "very toxic" pesticide levels.
