In Brief
- Location: Middle School Parasi, Noorsarai block in Nalanda district, Bihar.
- Cause: A school cook picked up detergent powder stored nearby, mistaking it for extra salt requested by students.
- Hospitalization: 34 children (17 boys and 17 girls) were taken to Biharsharif Sadar Hospital after complaining of stomach pain and dizziness.
- Current Status: Medical officials confirmed all affected children received timely treatment and are out of danger.
Thirty-four children were hospitalized on August 18, 2026, after consuming detergent powder mistakenly served as salt at Middle School Parasi in Bihar's Nalanda district.
The incident occurred during lunch service, where an NGO-supplied meal of rice and soybean-potato curry was being served. When students requested extra salt for their food, the school cook accidentally picked up detergent powder stored nearby in the kitchen.
Shortly after eating, the children experienced throat irritation, severe stomach pain, dizziness, and nausea. School staff initially administered warm salt water before transferring the students to Biharsharif Sadar Hospital for further care.
Nalanda Civil Surgeon Dr. Jay Prakash Singh confirmed that all 34 children are stable and recovering well. District officials and Bihar Minister Shravan Kumar visited the hospital to review the children's condition, ordering a formal inquiry into kitchen storage practices and food safety protocols.
