Several school children were hospitalised after consuming lentils from a pot that had a snake at the bottom during their midday meal at Mandalpur Primary School in India on Monday.
In the city of Birbhum, school children experienced health issues at Mandalpur Primary School on Monday after the snake-cooking incident.
Several learners were rushed to the Rampurhat Medical College Hospital. All were later discharged without issue, NDTV reported.
According to the officials, about 20 of the 53 pupils who were present ate the midday meal provided by the government at the school.
The shocking discovery came about when a school staff member, who was responsible for cooking the midday meal at school, saw the small snake at the bottom of the pot the lentils were cooked in.
All the children were immediately rushed to the Rampurhat Medical College Hospital after they fell ill, the staff member said.
Nimai Chandra, the headmaster at the school, said two women were responsible for cooking the meal.
“She saw a snake while serving lentils. One or two of them had just put it in their mouth. After they saw the snake, everyone was asked to stop eating,” the headmaster said.
It didn’t take long for news to spread. Villagers gathered at the school before vandalising the headmaster’s cars.
Compiled by Mashudu Mabila
Pictured Above: The snake in the lentil pot
Image source: NDTV
