Rat found in mid-day meal in govt school near Mangalore

Mangalore, July 30: A rat was found in the sambar kept ready for midday-meal at a government primary school at Krishnapur near here, causing anxiety among authorities in the backdrop of the recent tragedy in Bihar.

"A dead rat was found in the sambar of the mid-day meal at the government higher primary school at Krishnapur yesterday," a Suratkal Police official said today. The school chidren were fortunate that the rat was found much before the mid-day meal was to be served and the school management fed the students with biscuits and bananas, he said.

Soon after a girl student found the rat at the bottom of the vessel, teachers brought it to the notice of authorities in the Education Department, the official said.

"The officials examined the vessel in which the rat was found and took it away," he said. Twenty three students had died at Chhapra in Bihar recently after consuming the lunch served in school, bringing under the spotlight the flipside of the mid day meal scheme.

Mangalore North MLA Mohiuddin Bava said the incident will be brought to the notice of Primary and Secondary Education Minister Kimmane Ratnakar and a probe will be ordered. The police official said the Deputy Director Of Public Instructions officials would issue notice to the institution concerned.

PTI