40 students fall ill after having mid-day meal

HAZARIBAGH: At least 40 children in the age group of eight to ten years fell ill after having mid-day meal at Utkramit Middle School in Raipur panchayat of Hazaribagh district today, official sources said.

The students started vomiting midway through their meal and were rushed to a hospital where doctors said most of them were sent home after initial treatment and the condition of the remaining was out of danger and drips were administered.

The Mata Samiti members and the village Mukhia, Veena Devi said they informed the matter to the Chouparan block development officer and the block education officer who made arrangements to admit the students.

On inspection, a lizard was found floating in the container of dal, Devi said, adding the detection helped save the other students from taking the meal.

A total of 450 students take meal in batches, she said.