Thirty-six students were hospitalised after a lizard was found in the breakfast served at Kottaiyur Panchayat Union Middle School, triggering concern among parents and school authorities.
According to preliminary reports, some students complained of vomiting and dizziness after consuming the food served at the school. The affected students were subsequently taken to Tiruvallur Government Medical College Hospital, where they were admitted for treatment and kept under observation.
Tiruvallur, Tamil Nadu: Thirty-six students were hospitalised after a lizard was allegedly found in the breakfast served at Kottaiyur Panchayat Union Middle School. Some of the students reportedly developed vomiting and dizziness after consuming the food and were taken to… pic.twitter.com/K93iIV7s9b
— IANS (@ians_india) September 24, 2026
The incident has raised questions over food safety and hygiene standards in the preparation and distribution of meals served to schoolchildren. The presence of a lizard in food, if confirmed, would point to a serious lapse in basic hygiene and quality-control procedures.
Following the incident, Tiruvallur District Collector Kavitha visited the government medical college hospital to meet the affected students and enquire about their condition. She also inspected Kottaiyur Panchayat Union Middle School and took stock of the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Officials are expected to examine the food preparation and serving process, including the conditions in which the breakfast was cooked, stored and distributed to students. Samples may also be subjected to examination as part of efforts to establish whether the food was contaminated and whether it was responsible for the symptoms reported by the children.
The incident comes amid continued emphasis on ensuring the safety and nutritional quality of meals provided to schoolchildren through government-supported meal programmes. Such programmes serve large numbers of children every day, making strict adherence to hygiene, food handling and inspection protocols essential.
While the reported symptoms among the students have caused concern, the precise cause of their illness will need to be established through medical assessment and the findings of any official inquiry. The allegation regarding the lizard’s presence in the breakfast also requires verification by authorities.
Parents of the affected students are awaiting clarity on how the alleged contamination occurred and whether adequate safeguards were in place at the school.
The immediate priority remains the recovery and well-being of the 36 students. At the same time, a thorough investigation into the incident will be important to establish accountability and prevent any recurrence of such an episode in school meal services.
