Several students from a school in the Eastern Indian state of West Bengal reportedly fell sick after consuming food from a container in which a snake was found. Around 20 students fell sick and were taken to a local hospital after eating lentils from a container in which the snake was found, said school authorities in the state’s Birbhum district, according to the Indian Express newspaper.
Several students of the Mandalpur primary school, where the incident occurred, allegedly vomited after consuming the meal. While the students were later discharged from the hospital, one student is still admitted, but is out of danger and in a stable condition, said police.
The school headmaster told local media that, after the woman found the snake, “everyone was asked to stop eating”.
Some village residents, upon coming to know of the incident, reached the school and vandalised the principal’s car, said local media reports.
Police officials rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation, while the principal had to be sheltered by the officials from angry residents.
School authorities said two women had cooked the mid-day meal for students. One of the women had found the snake in the container in which the lentils were served to the students.
Praloy Naik, chairman of West Bengal’s Primary Education Board, admitted to “carelessness”. “Those responsible for cooking and serving food to children should be more alert,” he said.
It was unclear if local police are investigating the incident.
In other news – Arthur Mafokate’s properties seized over corruption scandal
Arthur Mafakote had been linked to a corruption scandal by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU). The Special Investigating Unit has obtained a preservation order from the High Court in Pretoria to freeze three luxury properties linked to fraud at the National Lotteries Commission.
The SIU says five non-profit organizations received funding of approximately R56 million for community development projects. Learn More
