Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu: Forty-four students from a corporation middle school in Coimbatore were hospitalized on Monday after eating a noon meal in which a dead lizard was reportedly found, according to local authorities and media reports.
The incident occurred at the Corporation Middle School in Kavundampalayam in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Shortly after eating the government-provided noon meal at school, several students began complaining of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort. Teachers and school authorities arranged immediate medical care and shifted the affected students to nearby hospitals.
Officials said 44 students were admitted to hospitals, including Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) and nearby government facilities, for observation and treatment. Doctors said the students were admitted mainly for observation and supportive care, which typically includes monitoring for vomiting, dehydration, and other symptoms that may occur after suspected food contamination. Officials reported that the children were stable.
According to initial reports, a dead lizard was discovered in the food served under the school noon meal program after some students had already consumed the meal. The discovery raised concerns about contamination of the food served to the children.
Reports indicated that the lizard was noticed in the sambar served with the meal after the food had already been distributed to students. After the contamination was identified, school authorities immediately alerted health officials.
Soon after the lunch break, several students reported symptoms commonly associated with food contamination, including vomiting, nausea, and stomach discomfort. As a precaution, school staff arranged for the students to be transported to hospitals for medical evaluation.
Health personnel examined the students and admitted them for monitoring. Medical teams provided supportive treatment and observation to prevent complications such as dehydration.
Contamination of cooked food by animals, insects, or other foreign organisms can introduce bacteria or microorganisms that may cause gastrointestinal illness. Such illnesses commonly present with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. In children, these symptoms can lead to dehydration if fluid loss becomes significant. For this reason, doctors often recommend medical evaluation and observation when several children develop symptoms after consuming the same meal.
Local officials from the school education department, health department, and Coimbatore Corporation visited the school after the incident. Authorities initiated an inquiry to determine how the contamination occurred during meal preparation or serving.
Officials are reviewing the food preparation process under the noon meal program. According to reports, food samples were collected for testing as part of the investigation.
Authorities are examining food storage, cooking conditions, and kitchen hygiene practices to determine whether safety protocols were followed.
The meal was served under the Tamil Nadu government's noon meal scheme, a public nutrition program that provides cooked meals to students in government and government-aided schools. The program aims to improve nutritional intake among children and encourage school attendance.
School meal programs serve large numbers of children every day, making strict food safety practices essential to prevent outbreaks of foodborne illness. Food contamination can occur when foreign organisms, animals, or pathogens enter prepared food.
Exposure to contaminated food can lead to acute foodborne illness, which often presents with symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, and sometimes diarrhea. Children are particularly vulnerable to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance during episodes of vomiting or diarrhea, which is why medical evaluation is often recommended when multiple students develop symptoms after eating the same meal.
A similar incident was reported in January 2026 when more than 30 students at the Odakkalpalayam Government Middle School near Coimbatore fell ill after consuming the midday meal. The students reportedly experienced symptoms such as vomiting and severe stomach pain shortly after eating. They were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Authorities ordered an inquiry and inspection of the midday meal served at the school. Initial reports suggested that the rice served in the meal might not have been properly cooked, although officials collected food samples for testing to determine the exact cause.
Doctors continued to monitor the hospitalized students after admission. Officials said the children were admitted mainly as a precaution and that their condition was stable.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident while reviewing food safety procedures in the school meal program.
(Rh/MSM)