Archive · 21 Aug 2026
34 Children Fall Ill After Detergent Replaces Salt in Meal
Thirty-four children became sick after eating lunch at their school in Nalanda, Bihar.
They had been served rice and a soybean-and-potato dish.
The children said detergent was mixed into the food instead of salt.
They felt stomach pain and dizziness.
The children were taken to hospitals for treatment.
Doctors said all of them were out of danger.
They were later allowed to go home.
The school said the salt and detergent had been stored together by mistake.
Officials are investigating what happened and how to stop it from happening again.
Thirty-four students at Parasi Middle School in Nalanda fell ill after eating a mid-day meal.
The students reported stomach pain and dizziness after consuming rice with soybean and potato vegetables.
They alleged detergent powder had been mixed into the dish instead of salt.
All 34 children were treated, declared out of danger, and discharged later that evening.
Officials ordered an investigation, while the school said the incident resulted from an accidental mix-up.
- Who
- Thirty-four students at Parasi Middle School, along with school staff and local officials.
- What
- The students fell ill after allegedly consuming a meal in which detergent was mixed into a vegetable dish instead of salt.
- When
- Thursday; the children were treated and discharged later that evening.
- Where
- Parasi Middle School in the Noorsarai block of Nalanda district, Bihar; treatment was provided in Rahui and Bihar Sharif.
- Why
- School authorities said salt and detergent were stored in the same place, causing an accidental mix-up; an official investigation is examining responsibility.
School's Account
Safety Concerns
Cause of the incident
School's Account
School authorities described the incident as an accidental mix-up caused by storing salt and detergent in the same place.
Safety Concerns
The incident has raised questions about ingredient storage, meal preparation, and checks before food is served.
Responsibility and prevention
School's Account
School staff said stricter food-preparation and ingredient-storage measures had been introduced and that classes had resumed.
Safety Concerns
Local officials ordered an investigation to determine responsibility and prevent a recurrence.
- Affected students
- 34 children
- School
- Parasi Middle School
- Meal served
- Rice with soybean and potato vegetables
- Reported symptoms
- Stomach pain and dizziness
- Initial treatment
- Paithana Dental College in Rahui
- Final treatment location
- Model Hospital in Bihar Sharif
- Outcome
- All children were declared out of danger and discharged
- Official response
- A formal investigation was ordered