On Tuesday (August 18, 2026), at least 34 children from Parsa Middle School in Nalanda district, Bihar, fell ill after eating their midday meal. The meal was reportedly contaminated with detergent powder instead of salt, which the school claims was a mistake.
The affected children experienced stomach pain and burning sensations, causing panic at the school. They were quickly taken to the government hospital in Biharsharif for treatment. Nalanda Civil Surgeon Jai Prakash Singh stated that it was a case of food poisoning but assured that all the children were stable and would recover.
Priti Kumari, one of the affected students, told reporters that she noticed a detergent smell in her meal. She explained that instead of salt, the food seemed to contain detergent powder, leading to stomach pain and discomfort. Many students even fainted after eating.
Parents rushed to the hospital upon hearing about the incident. Rajveer Kumar, whose daughter Chandni was hospitalized, described seeing children vomiting and feeling distressed when he arrived at the hospital.
The school’s headmaster claimed that one of the female cooks mistakenly used detergent powder instead of salt in the meal. The midday meal is provided by an NGO.
However, Nalanda’s District Education Officer (DEO) Hemchandra denied claims of detergent being mixed into the food. He stated that a thorough investigation was underway and that the cause of the illness would only be known after reviewing the hospital report.
Nalanda MLA Shrawon Kumar, who visited the hospital to check on the children, assured parents that strict action would be taken against those responsible. He emphasized the importance of the midday meal scheme for children’s nutrition and education and promised no tolerance for negligence.
Kumar also instructed officials to inspect all schools’ midday meal arrangements and provide hygiene training to cooks across the district. He urged parents not to panic, assuring them that the government was committed to their children’s health.