Sun Aug 03 03:50:51 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
A stray dog contaminated mid-day meals at a government-run school in Chhattisgarh’s Balodabazar district, India, on July 29, 2025. Despite teachers’ warnings, the self-help group (SHG) preparing the food served it to approximately 84 students. Following parental complaints, 78 students received anti-rabies vaccines as a precautionary measure. An investigation is underway, but the SHG members did not participate. A local MLA has called for a thorough probe and action against those responsible.
**News Article:**
**Dog Contaminates School Lunch in Chhattisgarh, 78 Students Vaccinated**
**Balodabazar, August 3, 2025** – A disturbing incident at a government-run middle school in Lachchhanpur, Balodabazar district, Chhattisgarh, has resulted in 78 students receiving anti-rabies vaccines. On July 29th, a stray dog reportedly contaminated cooked vegetables intended for the school’s mid-day meal program.
According to officials, teachers at the Government Middle School in Lachchhanpur, under the Palari block, instructed the self-help group (SHG) responsible for preparing the food to discard the vegetables after students alerted them to the potential contamination. However, the SHG reportedly disregarded these instructions and served the food to approximately 84 students, claiming it was safe.
Following the incident, concerned parents and villagers confronted the school management committee, demanding answers and the removal of the SHG. As a precautionary measure, parents took their children to the nearest health center, where 78 students were administered anti-rabies vaccines. “The anti-rabies vaccine was administered as a precautionary measure, not because of confirmed infection. There is no side effect of the first dose. It was done on the demand of villagers, parents and SMC [school management committee] members,” said Veena Verma, the in-charge of the Lachhanpur health centre.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate Deepak Nikunj and block education officer Naresh Verma, along with other officials, visited the school on Saturday to launch an investigation, recording statements from students, parents, teachers, and school management committee members. Notably, the SHG members did not participate in the investigation.
Local MLA Sandeep Sahu has written to Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, urging for a thorough probe into the incident and demanding action against those found responsible. He also questioned the authorization behind administering anti-rabies injections to the children. The investigation is ongoing.
First Piper 