On Friday, more than 90 children from the Government Higher Secondary School in Chudiyawas village, Dausa district, Rajasthan, were hospitalised after complaining of stomach pain, vomiting, and nausea soon after eating their mid-day meal.
The meal, served under the government’s nutrition scheme, consisted of chapatis and potato curry. A total of 156 students had consumed the meal when the health crisis unfolded, triggering panic among parents, teachers, and villagers.
Doctors at the Community Health Centre in Nangal Rajawatan administered immediate care, and 49 critically affected children were later shifted to the Dausa District Hospital for further treatment. Officials confirmed that all children are now stable, but the incident left families and the local community deeply concerned.
Official Response and Investigation
District Collector Devendra Kumar arrived promptly at the hospital to oversee the situation and assured that the affected children would receive proper care and comfort. He announced a thorough investigation is underway to identify the exact cause of this suspected food poisoning episode. Food safety officers have collected samples of all ingredients served, including flour, spices, vegetables, and oil, for laboratory testing.
Parallelly, the education department has formed teams to scrutinise hygiene practices, food storage, and preparation methods at the school. “Strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty of negligence or wrongdoing,” Kumar stated, according to India Today. State Minister Kirori Lal Meena and BJP leader Jagmohan Meena also visited to meet the children and reassured local parents of the government’s commitment to ensuring such an incident does not recur.
In response to the incident, authorities have strengthened health monitoring in nearby schools as a precautionary measure. They are also conducting awareness campaigns among school staff to reinforce hygiene and safe food handling practices. Parents have urged the government to ensure stricter supervision of meal quality going forward.
Community Outrage and School Administration’s Stand
Villagers expressed anger and disappointment, blaming negligence by the school administration and accusing them of poor food quality, particularly the potato curry, as the potential cause of illness. The school authorities, however, denied any lapse, noting that chapatis were made from the same batch of flour used the previous day without issue, and that two teachers had tasted the meal before it was served.
Despite this, the mid-day meal service has been suspended at the school until the inquiry concludes. The administration has also suspended the teacher responsible for meal supervision as a precautionary measure. Parents gathered outside hospitals in large numbers, anxious but relieved to hear that children’s conditions were improving with medical treatment.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This incident casts a stark spotlight on the fragile trust placed in government nutrition schemes by vulnerable communities. While such programmes play a crucial role in supporting child nutrition and encouraging school attendance, lapses in food safety can cause significant harm and anxiety.
The Logical Indian calls for enhanced monitoring, transparency, and community engagement to secure the health of every child. Emphasising empathy and shared responsibility, we urge authorities, schools, and parents to collaborate more effectively to prevent future incidents.
राजस्थान में मिड डे मील खाने से 100 से ज्यादा बच्चों की बिगड़ी तबीयत, 16 की हालत गंभीर #Dausa चूड़ियावास गांव की उच्च प्राथमिक स्कूल का मामला, सरकारी स्कूल में बच्चे हुए फूड प्वॉइजनिंग का शिकार हुए #foodpoision @RajCMO @madandilawar @BhajanlalBjp @NareshMeena__ pic.twitter.com/Y48P30jgmx
— suman(नरेश मीना का परिवार) (@suman_pakad) September 13, 2025
