India’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has initiated an inquiry following reports that over 100 schoolchildren became ill after consuming a lunch allegedly served with a dead snake in it.
The incident reportedly occurred last week at a public school in Mokama, a city in the eastern state of Bihar, one of India’s poorest regions. In a statement issued Thursday, the NHRC expressed concern over media claims that the cook removed the dead snake from the food but still served the meal to students.
“According to reports, the cook allegedly took out the dead snake and went ahead to serve the meal,” the commission stated.
The event has sparked widespread anger in the community, with parents and residents staging protests and blocking roads in outrage over the children’s illnesses.
“The report of children falling sick after eating the midday meal led to road blockades by enraged villagers,” the NHRC added.
The commission has urged both local authorities and the police to carry out a comprehensive investigation, including details on the health status of the affected students and the conditions under which the meal was prepared.
India’s midday meal program, which provides free lunches to students in government schools, is intended to reduce child hunger and encourage school attendance. However, food safety concerns have periodically marred the initiative.
The NHRC warned that, if confirmed, the incident represents a serious breach of the children’s rights.
This alarming episode recalls a 2013 tragedy in the same state of Bihar, where 23 children died after consuming a school meal tainted with pesticides. That disaster prompted national outrage and reforms aimed at improving food safety in schools.
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