Dozens of students in Tamil Nadu were taken to hospital after a food contamination scare at a Coimbatore Corporation school.
At least 44 students from a government school in Tamil Nadu were rushed to hospital on March 10 after a lizard was discovered in the midday meal served to them, triggering panic among children and staff.
The incident took place at a Corporation Middle School under the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation’s West Zone, where students from Classes 4, 5 and 6 were eating their midday meal when the contamination was noticed.
According to officials, a total of 44 students, 31 boys and 13 girls, were affected. Once the presence of a lizard in the food was detected, authorities immediately arranged ambulances and shifted the children to the District Government Medical College Hospital for treatment.
OFFICIALS VISIT HOSPITAL
The affected students, who are currently undergoing treatment, were later visited by Coimbatore City Mayor K Ranganayaki Ramachandran and Municipal Commissioner M Sivaguru Prabhakaran.
The two officials met the children and spoke to doctors at the hospital to review the treatment being provided.
Authorities have not yet provided further details on the health condition of the students.
POLITICAL REACTIONS
The incident drew strong reactions from political leaders, with BJP leader Vinoj P Selvam calling the development “shocking and heartbreaking”.
In a message posted on X, he said, “The news that 44 students who ate midday meals at Kovai Kaundampalayam Municipal Corporation Middle School were admitted to the hospital, reportedly due to a lizard falling into the food, is shocking and heartbreaking. I pray that the students recover fully soon.”
கோவை கவுண்டம்பாளையம் மாநகராட்சி நடுநிலைப்பள்ளியில் பல்லி விழுந்ததாகக் கூறப்படும் மதிய உணவு சாப்பிட்ட 44 மாணவர்கள் மருத்துவமனையில் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள செய்தி அதிர்ச்சியையும் வேதனையையும் தருகிறது.மாணவர்கள் விரைவில் பூரண நலம் பெற வேண்டும் என வேண்டுகிறேன்.
கடந்த
பிப்ரவரி மாதமும்… https://t.co/DrJMYADE1j— Vinoj P Selvam (@VinojBJP) March 10, 2026
Selvam also referred to a similar episode reported in February near Pollachi, where students at the Dasanayakanpalayam school were affected by health issues after consuming the midday meal.
“Such incidents have been on the rise over the past five years, which highlights the government’s negligence,” he said.
CALL FOR INSPECTION OF SCHOOL MEALS
The BJP leader criticised the state government over food quality in schools and called for immediate inspections.
“I strongly condemn this government, which is incapable of addressing the minister who gives a scientific explanation that ‘ink has seeped into the egg’ when asked about providing rotten eggs to students, or the officials who engage in corruption in children’s food,” he said.
Selvam added that the government should “immediately initiate an inspection of the quality and hygiene of the food provided to students in all schools”.
