Chandrapur: Thirty-one students of an ashram school in Nagarala village of Jiwati taluka fell ill on Tuesday after consuming a meal in which pieces of a lizard were reportedly found. The incident has sparked outrage among parents and raised serious concerns about food safety and hygiene standards at the residential school.The incident occurred at Ambru Naik Secondary Ashram School, which is run by Maharashtra govt’s other backward bahujan welfare department. The school has around 50 students studying in Classes 1 to 10.According to preliminary reports, a lizard is suspected to have fallen into dal and vegetable preparation while food was being cooked in the school kitchen. The contamination allegedly went unnoticed by the kitchen staff.Students had already consumed rotis and the vegetable dish when those serving the meal reportedly noticed pieces of the lizard in the food. The remaining students were immediately prevented from eating. Shortly thereafter, several students complained of nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and dizziness.All the 31 affected students were rushed to Rural Hospital in Rajura, where they are undergoing treatment. Hospital authorities said their condition is stable.Following the incident, police visited the hospital and recorded statements from the affected students and the school superintendent. Food samples are likely to be sent for laboratory testing to determine whether the meal was contaminated and to establish the exact cause of the students’ illness.The episode has caused concern among parents and local residents, who have demanded thorough investigation and strict action against those responsible if negligence in food preparation or supervision is found.
