A dead baby snake was allegedly found in food served under the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) scheme at Kanya Madhya Vidyalaya in Dhutauli Malpa village, Chautham block, Khagaria district, Bihar, on Thursday, 23 July, triggering panic among students and prompting an emergency medical response. Several children complained of dizziness, headaches, and weakness, and were shifted to a nearby health facility for examination.

What Happened at the School

The discovery of the dead snake in the midday meal spread rapidly through the school, sending students into a state of fear. Anxious parents and villagers converged on Kanya Madhya Vidyalaya after learning of the incident. As a precautionary measure, all affected students were immediately transported to the Chautham Community Health Centre (CHC) for medical assessment and treatment.

The sudden influx of children created a brief rush at the 30–40-bed facility, which was simultaneously hosting a female sterilisation camp. Medical personnel prioritised the schoolchildren, and additional doctors were called in to assist. Students experiencing severe anxiety and physical weakness were administered intravenous (IV) fluids.

Medical Assessment: Anxiety, Not Poisoning

Chautham CHC In-charge Dr Anil Kumar said that, based on preliminary medical assessment, the incident did not appear to be a case of food poisoning. He attributed the children's symptoms — including dizziness, restlessness, headaches, and weakness — primarily to fear and panic triggered by the discovery of the snake.

Among the students who complained of headaches and stomach pain were Radhika Kumari, Komal Kumari, Ritika Kumari, Khushi Kumari, Kajal Kumari, Srishti Kumari, and Beauty Kumari. Doctors confirmed that anxiety-related symptoms were predominant in most cases. Doctors Brijesh and Zia-ul-Haq, along with the in-charge Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) and other healthcare personnel, actively participated in treatment and monitoring. All students were confirmed to be out of danger and in stable condition.

Officials Visit, Probe Ordered

District Education Officer Amarendra Kumar Gaur, Chautham Block Development Officer Ranjeet Kumar Singh, and In-charge Block Education Officer Manoj Kumar visited the CHC shortly after receiving information. The officials met with doctors, reviewed the treatment being provided, and inquired about the students' condition.

Gaur stated that detailed instructions on hygiene and quality standards for the MDM programme had already been issued to schools, mandating that meals be prepared and served in clean environments with regular sanitation of school premises. He announced that a formal investigation into the incident would be conducted and appropriate action taken based on its findings.

Midday Meal Safety Under Scrutiny

This incident is the latest in a recurring pattern of food safety lapses reported in India's midday meal programme, which feeds crores of schoolchildren daily. Contamination incidents — ranging from insects to foreign objects in food — have periodically surfaced across states, drawing criticism of oversight mechanisms. Notably, the MDM scheme is a critical nutrition safety net for children from low-income families, making lapses in its administration a matter of public health concern.

The Bihar government's Health Department confirmed that none of the students showed symptoms of severe food poisoning. An investigation is expected to determine how the snake entered the food, and whether lapses in kitchen hygiene or supervision were responsible. The outcome of that probe will likely determine what action, if any, is taken against those responsible for meal preparation at the school.