On Tuesday, 3 February 2026, a major food safety scare occurred at the Jamalapur Government Higher Primary School in Bidar, Karnataka, where 50 children fell ill after consuming their midday meal, according to the Hindu.
Students in Aurad taluk reported distressing symptoms including vomiting, diarrhoea, and stomach pain shortly after eating a lunch of rice and sambar. While teachers and local villagers rushed approximately 58 students to the Aurad Taluk Hospital as a precautionary measure, 20 children required hospitalisation for more severe symptoms.
As of Wednesday, 4 February, health officials have confirmed that all affected children are in stable condition and out of danger, with most already discharged. Authorities have collected food samples for laboratory analysis and launched a formal inquiry to determine if contamination or administrative negligence led to the suspected food poisoning.
Karnataka: Mid-Day Meal Crisis
The incident triggered immediate panic in Jamalapur village as dozens of primary school students began showing signs of physical distress within minutes of finishing their lunch.
Swift action by the school staff and local residents was instrumental in managing the crisis, as they coordinated the transport of the entire student body to the taluk hospital to ensure no child was left unmonitored.
While the majority were released after preliminary observation, 20 students were admitted for intensive care, with four girls being shifted to the Bidar Institute of Medical Sciences (BRIMS) for specialized treatment.
By Wednesday morning, Deputy Commissioner Shilpa Sharma and other senior medical officers confirmed that the children were responding well to treatment and being sent home in ambulances.
Official Probes
In the aftermath of the crisis, high-ranking district officials, including Deputy Commissioner Shilpa Sharma and Aurad MLA Prabhu Chavan, visited the hospital and the school site to oversee the investigation.
Preliminary findings point toward possible contamination in the cooked sambar or a defect in the storage of raw ingredients. The Aurad Tahsildar, Mahesh Patil, and the District Health Officer have confirmed that a detailed report has been sought from the school administration.
Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary’s office was also briefed on the broader implications of school safety.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At The Logical Indian, we believe that a school should be the safest place for a child, yet recurring incidents of food poisoning transform a promise of nutrition into a source of trauma.
While the administrative response in Bidar was commendable for its speed, the root cause remains a systemic failure to prioritise hygiene and quality control in rural kitchens.
It is a matter of profound empathy and collective responsibility to ensure that “cost-cutting” never comes at the cost of a child’s health.
We urge the Karnataka government to go beyond temporary suspensions and implement a technology-driven, transparent monitoring system for midday meals. Our children deserve to eat with dignity and safety, and any compromise on this basic right is a betrayal of the public trust.
