Bhubaneswar: Chaotic scenes unfolded today after a scorpion was allegedly found in food served at the Aahar Centre located inside Odisha's Harekrushna Mahtab State Library premises in Bhubaneswar. Irate students staged a protest with with many refusing to eat from the centre fearing food poisoning.

The Aahar Centre had been inaugurated around six months ago within the library campus. It is functioning under the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), while its operations are managed by the Maa Durga Self-Help Group.

According to reports, a student noticed a black scorpion inside the "dalma" served on his plate while collecting food. It was alleged that part of the scorpion was already inside the meal. The student immediately informed the staff members, but reportedly did not receive a satisfactory response.

Centre officials say meals are prepared off-site

The incident sparked outrage among students who alleged that the episode exposed poor hygiene standards and unhealthy food preparation practices at the centre. They demanded a high-level inquiry and strict action against those responsible.

Jyotsnarani Sahu, president of the Maa Durga Self-Help Group that manages the centre, stated that the meals are prepared at another location and later transported to the facility. While she acknowledged that a scorpion was found in the dalma, she said it was not yet clear whether it got into the food during cooking or afterwards. She further said senior officials had been informed, and authorities had visited the centre to review the matter.

Also read: 40 fall ill after consuming contaminated dalma as snake found inside pot in Odisha's Kendrapara