90 children fall ill after mid-day meal in Rajasthan school, probe ordered

(Representational Image PTI)

Nearly 90 students from a government school in Rajasthan’s Dausa district were hospitalised on Friday after they complained of stomach pain and vomiting following their mid-day meal, India Today reported.

Authorities have launched an investigation into what is suspected to be a case of food poisoning.

The incident occurred at the Government Higher Secondary School in Chudiyawas village, where 156 children had eaten chapatis and vegetables served under the government’s nutrition scheme. Soon after lunch, several began feeling unwell, and within hours, dozens complained of nausea and stomach cramps, triggering panic among parents and staff.

A medical team rushed to the spot and treated the children initially, but as cases surged, many were shifted to the Community Health Centre in Nangal Rajwatan.

Later, 49 children were referred to the Dausa District Hospital. Additional doctors and nurses were deployed to handle the sudden influx.

By evening, officials confirmed that all the admitted children were out of danger. District Collector Devendra Kumar, who visited the hospital, directed staff to ensure proper care and ordered an inquiry. “Food samples have been collected, and strict action will follow if anyone is found responsible,” he said, according to India Today.

State Minister Kirori Lal Meena and BJP leader Jagmohan Meena also visited the children and assured parents that the matter was being taken seriously.

School authorities, however, insisted that the food had been prepared as usual, pointing out that chapatis made from the same flour were served the previous day without incident. Two teachers had also tasted the meal before serving, they said.

The case has reignited concerns over the safety of meals served under the mid-day meal scheme. Investigators are now trying to determine whether the contamination occurred during preparation, storage, or distribution.