Dead chameleon found in lunch leaves 65 Jharkhand students sick

Students eat their midday meal at a public school. — Image source: PTI Students eat lunch at a public school. (Representative image)

At least 65 students of a government college in Tongra in Jharkhand’s Dumka district fell ill after eating their mid-day meal. The students started vomiting soon after eating, requiring immediate medical attention.

According to the authorities, a dead chameleon was found in the meal. The students concerned were quickly transferred to the Masalia community health center, where their condition is said to be stable.

Block Development Officer (BDO) Azfar Husnain confirmed the situation, saying, “The students reported finding a dead chameleon in their food. They are receiving medical treatment and their condition is stable.”

Tongra police station officer-in-charge Gurucharan Manjhi said an investigation into the incident was underway. Authorities were working to determine how the contamination occurred and ensure that appropriate measures were taken to prevent such incidents in the future.

The incident has raised serious concerns about food safety and hygiene standards in the school meals programme, prompting calls for a thorough review and immediate corrective action.

(PTI Inputs)