Patna, July 23 (IANS) Panic spread at Kanya Madhya Vidyalaya in Dhutauli Malpa village under Chautham block of Bihar’s Khagaria district on Thursday after a dead baby snake was allegedly found in the food served under the Mid‑Day Meal (MDM) scheme.
The incident triggered fear among students, with several children complaining of illness, while anxious parents and villagers rushed to the school after learning about it.
As a precautionary measure, the affected students were immediately shifted to the Chautham Community Health Centre (CHC) for medical examination and treatment.
The news spread rapidly, leading to a sudden influx of students at the hospital and creating a brief rush at the 30–40‑bed facility. Although a female sterilisation camp was underway at the CHC, medical personnel prioritised the treatment of the schoolchildren.
Additional doctors were called in to assist, and some students experiencing severe anxiety and weakness were administered intravenous (IV) fluids.
Chautham CHC In‑charge Anil Kumar said that, based on preliminary medical assessment, the incident did not appear to be a case of food poisoning. He explained that the discovery of the snake created panic among the children, leading many to experience dizziness, restlessness, headaches and weakness.
He said all students were treated according to their symptoms and kept under medical observation. Kumar confirmed that all the children were out of danger and their condition remained stable.
Doctors Brijesh and Zia‑ul‑Haq, the in‑charge Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM), and other healthcare personnel actively participated in providing treatment and monitoring.
Among those who complained of headaches and stomach pain were Radhika Kumari, Komal Kumari, Ritika Kumari, Khushi Kumari, Kajal Kumari, Srishti Kumari and Beauty Kumari. However, doctors observed that anxiety‑related symptoms were predominant in most cases.
Soon after receiving information, District Education Officer Amarendra Kumar Gaur, Chautham Block Development Officer Ranjeet Kumar Singh and In‑charge Block Education Officer Manoj Kumar visited the CHC to review the situation.
The officials met doctors, inquired about the condition of the students and reviewed the treatment being provided.
The District Education Officer said detailed instructions regarding hygiene and quality standards for the Mid‑Day Meal programme have already been issued to schools. He stated that meals must be prepared and served in a clean environment and that regular sanitation of school premises is mandatory.
He also announced that the incident would be investigated and appropriate action taken based on the findings.
According to the Health Department, none of the students exhibited symptoms of severe food poisoning, and all are in stable condition. Preliminary findings revealed that fear and anxiety following the discovery of the dead snake were the primary reasons many children complained of illness.
–IANS
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