Snake found in mid-day meal served at school, children hospitalized

KOLKATA: Around 30 children were hospitalized after a snake was found in the food served as mid-day meals. The incident took place on Monday at a primary school in Mayureshwar block in West Bengal's Birbhum district.

The snake was found in the pot where the lentils had been cooked. After consuming the food, the children started vomiting and were admitted to Rampurhat Medical College Hospital. All but one of the children have been discharged from the hospital. The hospital authorities said that the child under treatment is out of danger.

Local residents protested the incident. Police said the parents gheraoed the school principal and vandalized his two-wheeler. Block Development Officer Deepanjan Dana said that complaints have been received from many villages that children are falling ill after eating school lunch and a detailed investigation will be launched into the incident.