Motihari/Patna: Five to six children reportedly fell ill after eating ice cream purchased from a vendor near Gaighat High School in Bihar’s Harsiddhi area of East Champaran district. The children allegedly experienced a severe burning sensation in their mouths, with some reporting that their lips stuck together and one child suffering bleeding.
The incident reportedly took place near the school gate, triggering panic among students and concern among their families.
According to accounts from the affected children, they began experiencing discomfort immediately after consuming the ice cream.
Children Taken To Hospital
One affected student said the burning sensation began as soon as they ate the ice cream. The student added that after struggling to remove it from the mouth, their lips started bleeding, while other children experienced similar symptoms.
Following the incident, family members and local villagers rushed the children to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Villagers suspect that a harmful substance may have been present in the ice cream. However, the cause of the children’s symptoms has not yet been officially established.
Ice Cream Vendor Detained
Police reached the spot after receiving information about the incident and detained the vendor for questioning.
Avinash Kumar, Additional Station House Officer of Harsiddhi police station, said the police were questioning the vendor to determine the source of the ice cream and the ingredients used in its preparation.
Villagers have demanded a thorough investigation and strict action against those responsible if any irregularities or negligence in the production of the ice cream are established.
Cause Yet To Be Established
The exact reason for the children falling ill remains unknown. It is yet to be determined whether the ice cream contained any harmful substance or whether another factor caused the symptoms.
The findings of the police investigation and the examination of the ice cream’s quality are expected to help establish the cause of the incident.
