As many as 55 students, between two and six years, including two women at an Anganwadi centre in Birbhum’s Banior village in Nalhati I block area were admitted to Rampurhat SD hospital as they fell sick after consuming a meal (khichudi) that contained a snake.

The children and women, who were rushed to hospital when they complained of severe headache and nausea, are, however, out of danger.

The hospital authorities said that that all the patients are in safe condition as no symptoms of food poisoning had been found thus far.

Dr. Himadri Haldar, superintendent, Rampurhat SD hospital said, “The patients actually have no symptom of food poisoning after they have been provided primary treatment. But our doctors are observing a few children if any symptom appears later.”

The Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) centre in Kabirajpara near Rampurhat prepared the meal.

The residents of the village blamed the cook and an assistant of the centre for the incident.

“Due to sheer callousness of the workers and cook of the Anganwadi centre the snake may have dropped from the dirty roof of tin and bamboos. Nanda Konai, a resident of Banior village, said, “Always the cook and the assistant of the Angan-wadi centre keep the cooked food uncovered”.

Dr. Halder stated that said the snake poison was not in lethal quantity. Kids fell ill due to fear psychosis.

Suniti Majhi, ICDS supervisor of the village, blamed the cook, Maya Konai. "She never told us that the shed where the mid-day meal is cooked was in a bad condition. Somehow, the snake must have slipped in and fallen in the vessel. We will seek explanation from the cook.''

However, Maya said that she made repeated complaints to the functionaries to improve the shed’s condition where mid-day meals were prepared.

"The shed is in a bad shape. It lacks maintenance. There are many snakes, insects and worms there as it is not cleaned properly. I found nothing at the time of cooking. I had cooked and left the centre and was not present at the time the food was served,'' she said.