GADAG: In all, 107 schoolchildren fell ill after a lizard was found in a salt container used to prepare the mid-day meal at the Government Higher Primary School at Bidanal village in Mundaragi taluk of Gadag district on Saturday.
It is said that the lizard was detected after the meal was served. Soon after consuming the meal, the children started vomiting and suffering from stomach aches. The teachers, with the help of villagers, shifted the children to the Mundargi Taluk Hospital. Of the 107 children, five have been admitted and are being treated as inpatients, doctors said.
A doctor from the Mundargi Taluk Hospital said, “All are out of danger now and there is no need to worry.” Education department officials, including the taluk education officer, visited the school and the hospital. The officials are now conducting an investigation into the incident. They will look at not only this specific episode, but also the preparation and distribution of mid-day meal at the school, officials said.
The parents, who were initially worried, were relieved that the incident was not as serious as it was perceived to be. Sunil Halli, a parent, said, “The staff preparing the mid-day meal should be careful and not keep the containers open. We all believe in them and send our children to the school.”