After a lizard was found in the food meant for the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme at the Kottaiyur Middle School in Kadambathur block on Thursday, Tiruvallur Collector S. Kavitha relieved the two woman cooks, Arthi and Dhanalakshmi, of duty.
She also directed that action be initiated against the school headmaster and teacher, and the block development officer in-charge of the scheme.
Sources said the cooks noticed the lizard while transferring rava kichadi to smaller utensils.
Since 40 of the 54 children had consumed a portion of the food by then, the children were immediately made to drink salt water and vomit.
They were then taken to the Tiruvallur Medical College Hospital, where they underwent a check-up and were later sent home.
One girl student was admitted to the hospital with diarrhoea.
The Collector, who visited the school and the hospital, said the incident happened because the utensils containing the food were not covered properly.
Published – September 25, 2026 12:35 am IST
