A shocking incident at a government school in West Delhi has raised concerns over food safety after a dead lizard was found inside a container of mid-day meal served to students.
The incident came to light on July 3 at Sarvodaya Co-Educational School in Hari Nagar. According to police, the meal, consisting of rice and chickpeas, was supplied to the school through an NGO under the mid-day meal scheme.
During the distribution of food, a school helper reportedly noticed a dead lizard inside one of the containers. The distribution process was immediately stopped to prevent further consumption of the contaminated food.
Police said that the meal had already been served two to three times before the issue was detected. However, no student or staff member reported any symptoms of food poisoning or illness following the incident.
Following the discovery, school authorities informed the Education Department and the police. A police team reached the school, collected samples of the food along with the dead lizard, and sent them for forensic examination.
An FIR has been registered at the Hari Nagar police station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police officials said further action will be taken based on the forensic report and findings of the investigation.
The incident has raised fresh concerns over hygiene standards and quality checks in school meal programmes. Parents and education officials have called for stricter monitoring of food preparation, storage, and distribution systems to ensure the safety of students.
Authorities are now investigating whether negligence occurred during food preparation or transportation and are examining all possible lapses connected to the incident.
