In a shocking incident raising hygiene concerns in Tamil Nadu, a dead lizard was found in the sambar served at Panchayat Union Primary School in Krishnagiri district.
Lizard in the Sambar
Under the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Programme, children at the Panchayat Union Primary School in Pungampatti village were served pongal along with sambar. The incident took place on Wednesday, when one of the students spotted a dead lizard in his plate, according to school sources.
Reportedly, there are 32 students in the school, and four had allegedly consumed the food. They started vomiting and were taken to the nearby primary health center at Babur. A teacher said they were later shifted to the Government Dharmapuri Medical College for further observation and treatment.
However, officials from the school and revenue department claimed that none of the students had consumed the food, and they were brought to the hospital only as a precaution. All of them are said to be doing fine now.
Investigation Underway
After hearing about the incident, Elementary District Education Officer Sivaraman and Pochampalli Tahsildar Sathya visited the school. Kaveripattinam block development officials have also started a probe. Officials are checking the kitchen facilities, food storage practices, and whether daily inspections were being followed properly.
Previous Incidents
This is reportedly the third lizard-in-food case this week. Earlier, a lizard was found in the sambar at Kolinjivadi Municipal Middle School in Dharapuram, Tiruppur district. A similar case was reported from Thanjavur Medical College Hospital.
Such back-to-back incidents have drawn attention to the standards of food safety checks in state-run institutions.
Recurring Hygiene Concerns
Throughout the year, multiple cases have emerged, sparking concerns about food safety in Tamil Nadu. In the past, two food poisoning incidents were reported, one during a mass feeding at Karuppannasamy Temple and another at a government school in Tiruchirappalli under the midday meal scheme. Some of these cases led to hospitalization and drew widespread criticism.
What Lies Ahead
Repeated incidents like these have left people worried about hygiene standards, especially in midday and breakfast meals. Critics say that, Tamil Nadu may need to bring in stricter rules to improve food safety across schools and public institutions.
(Rh/Pooja Bansal/MSM/SE)