A few weeks ago, short video clips of an emcee ‘relishing’ the sambar served at government schools as part of the midday meal and breakfast scheme in Tamil Nadu circulated widely on social media.
🚶 https://t.co/ZepPCXgrF4 pic.twitter.com/LFlaos165D
— Saikiran Kannan | 赛基兰坎南 (@saikirankannan) March 10, 2026
A few days ago, we reported that 33 students fell ill due to suspected food poisoning at a government model school hostel near Cuddalore.
On Tuesday, 10 March 2026, yet another similar incident surfaced, this time from Coimbatore.
As reported in Times of India, as many as 44 students suffered suspected food poisoning after consuming lunch at a Coimbatore Corporation Middle School in Kavundampalayam on Tuesday afternoon. It was alleged that a lizard had fallen into the food served to the students.
#WATCH | Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu: 43 students of a government school in Coimbatore were rushed to the Government Hospital following a suspected case of food poisoning linked to their Noon meal. pic.twitter.com/JIgn0alDzA
— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2026
According to officials, most of the affected children were studying in Class IV. Shortly after lunch, several students began experiencing continuous vomiting, while some reportedly fainted. The affected group included 30 boys and 14 girls.
VIDEO | Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu: Several students of a school hospitalised after a lizard was allegedly found in their Mid Day meals.
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/dv5TRAShcC) pic.twitter.com/Dwnfl6XcB2
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 10, 2026
Forty-three of the students were rushed to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) for treatment, while the parents of one student took the child home. A team of five doctors at CMCH attended to the children and provided medical care.
Coimbatore District Collector Pavankumar G Giriyappanavar, Corporation Commissioner M Sivaguru Prabakaran and Mayor R Ranganayaki visited the hospital to review the situation and check on the students.
Officials stated that the condition of all the affected children was stable. All 44 students were discharged later on Tuesday night after receiving treatment.
Corporation Commissioner M Sivaguru Prabakaran stated that a special team had been constituted to investigate the allegation that a lizard had fallen into the food served to the students. He reported that a detailed inspection would be carried out at the school kitchen and that only the investigation would determine whether negligence on the part of the staff had caused the incident. He also stated that a circular would be issued to all schools following the inquiry.
Meanwhile, parents gathered at the school entrance after learning about the incident. According to reports, they were initially denied entry into the premises, which led to an argument between the parents, school authorities and police personnel present at the spot.
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