India’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has launched an investigation into reports that more than 100 schoolchildren fell ill after consuming a school lunch that allegedly contained a dead snake.
According to a statement released Thursday, the incident occurred last week at a government-run school in Mokama, Bihar—one of the country’s most impoverished states.
The NHRC cited media reports claiming that the cook removed the dead snake from the food and served it regardless.
“The cook reportedly served the food to the children after removing a dead snake from it,” the commission stated.
The incident sparked outrage in the community, with families staging protests and blocking roads in response to the children’s illnesses.
“The news about the children falling ill due to the consumption of the midday meal led to road blockages by protesting villagers,” the NHRC noted.
The commission has called on local authorities and police to conduct a thorough investigation and provide a detailed report.
This includes information on the children’s health conditions and the circumstances surrounding the meal preparation.
India’s midday meal scheme provides free lunches to millions of children in government schools, aiming to boost school attendance and reduce hunger. However, the program has faced safety concerns in the past.
The NHRC emphasized that, if verified, the incident raises a “serious issue of violation of the human rights of the students.”
This case echoes a tragic 2013 incident in Bihar, where 23 children died after consuming a school meal contaminated with pesticides.
That event led to heightened scrutiny and reforms in school food safety standards.