Several students fall ill after consuming mid-day meal in Asansol, rotten meat suspected

Several students at Beldanga Adivasi Primary School in Asansol were taken ill after a foul smell emanated from the mid-day meal served to them. The incident has caused a major stir among parents and the local community, highlighting serious concerns about the quality and safety of food provided under the government's flagship scheme. The school was immediately put on high alert as concerned guardians rushed to the premises upon hearing the news.

According to initial reports, the day’s meal included meat, but as the food was being prepared, a strong and unpleasant odor filled the school kitchen and classrooms. Students who were served the food immediately complained of the bad smell, with some even starting to feel nauseous and vomit. The incident created a chaotic situation, with teachers struggling to manage the sick students while simultaneously trying to calm down the agitated parents.

The parents and residents, who quickly gathered outside the school, alleged that the meat used for the meal was rotten and unfit for consumption. They claimed that the headmaster of the school, Ramprasad Mohori, had personally bought the meat the previous night and had started the cooking process himself early in the morning, away from the prying eyes of the regular kitchen staff. This has led to strong suspicions of negligence on the part of the school's administration.

In response to the growing tension, officials from the Jamuria police station reached the Beldanga Adivasi Primary School to defuse the situation. They spoke with the parents and the school authorities and initiated an investigation into the matter. The parents' agitation turned into a full-blown protest, with many demanding immediate action against the headmaster and other individuals responsible for the alleged food poisoning incident.

For his part, Headmaster Ramprasad Mohori has vehemently denied all allegations. He claimed that the incident was a "staged" event and that no student had actually fallen ill. He argued that it was a "wrong idea" to suggest that a bad smell alone could make students sick. He confirmed that the District Education Department had summoned him for an inquiry, but he stated that he was unaware of the reason.