Saharsa school meal leaves 24 children ill, journalist alleges hospital assault

Twenty-four children fell ill after eating a mid-day meal at Madhya Vidyalaya Basudeva in Bihar's Saharsa district on Saturday, according to media reports. Relatives and school staff alleged that a dead lizard was found in a child's plate of khichdi.

Jagran reported that 12 children were treated at Bariyahi Primary Health Centre and 12 at Saharsa Sadar Hospital. Other local reports gave figures ranging from more than a dozen to about 30, but the higher count was not officially confirmed.

The children reportedly complained of nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and fainting. A doctor at Bariyahi told meida that no poison was detected during treatment and examination, and reports said the children were out of danger after primary treatment.

Media reported that the meal was supplied by Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Dalit Utthan Evam Shiksha Samiti. School cook Vidyanand Mukhiya alleged that the lizard was already in the khichdi delivered by the organisation.

Teacher Arjun Tanti told media that the food was transferred into school utensils and tasted by the cook and teachers before it was served. Education and administrative teams began an inquiry, while District Magistrate and police officials visited Saharsa Sadar Hospital.

The incident led to a separate controversy at the hospital after Prabhat Khabar journalist Abhishek alleged that he was assaulted while reporting on the children. His written complaint named hospital manager Simpi Kumari, hospital in-charge Dr Ajit and Dr S K Azad, according to some media reports.

Abhishek alleged that he was abused, assaulted and taken towards the operation theatre after filming the children and recording a report in the hospital corridor. He also alleged that a group confined and threatened him, and asked police to preserve CCTV footage from the hospital and the area around the operation theatre.

The allegations have not been independently established, and the accused doctors' account was not available in the reports reviewed. No reliable report had confirmed the registration of an FIR by Sunday evening, although the journalist had submitted a written complaint seeking action.

Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav demanded strict action and said people had the right to ask questions. MLA I P Gupta said objections to reporting should be addressed through a complaint or police action rather than physical confrontation.

Authorities had not announced any suspension, criminal case or final food-test finding by Sunday evening. The administrative inquiry into the meal and the journalist's complaint remained pending.