After an earthworm was found in the dal supplied for MDM to Regidi Street UP school in Hinjili NAC on July 26, a lizard was found in the rice on Friday. Nandi Foundation supplies cooked food to various schools in Ganjam district including Hinjili block. After the recovery of earthworm at Tamaya UP school in Berhampur and Regidi, Ganjam Collector besides entrusting Berhampur sub-collector to inquire, had directed the school cook and others to test the cooked food before serving the students.
However, when the staff of Nandi Foundation downloaded the cooked food and opened the cover of the rice drum on Friday, they found a dead lizard inside. Immediately the Headmistress Santilata Sabat apprised the school managing committee and BDO Subhransu Mishra of the matter.
The staff of Nandi Foundation were asked to take back the cooked food. On receiving the news, Collector Kishen Kumar directed the school officials to lodge an FIR with Hinjili police to investigate.
After the earthworm issue, two senior revenue officials have been keeping a vigil on Nandi kitchen till the food is cooked and packed. On Friday also, the cooked food was packed and loaded in vehicles under the watchful eyes of the officials.
They said if the earthworm and the lizard had fallen during cooking, those would have melted. But in both cases, their bodies were found in tact. They did not rule out foul play by some mischief mongers.
Meanwhile, Regidi school managing committee president Panchanan Prusty said they have decided not to get cooked food further and would cook food in the school itself.