A dead baby snake was allegedly found inside a nutrition food packet distributed to a pregnant woman through an Anganwadi centre in Madhya Pradesh’s Pandhurna district, triggering concern among villagers and prompting an official investigation.
The incident was reported from Karghat Kamthi village on Saturday. The packet, containing laddoos provided under a nutrition scheme for pregnant women, had been given to Vachhala Bai Dhurve by the local Anganwadi centre.
According to family members, they discovered the dead reptile after opening the packet at home. Fortunately, the woman had not consumed any of the food, preventing what could have been a serious health risk.
The discovery sparked panic and anger in the village, with residents raising questions about the quality and safety of food being supplied to pregnant women and children through the Anganwadi system.
The family immediately informed Anganwadi workers and local authorities. Following the complaint, officials from the Women and Child Development Department, along with police personnel and revenue officials, reached the village to examine the matter.
Project Officer Usha Pandre, officials from Nandanwadi police station and the local Naib Tehsildar inspected the packet and prepared a report on the incident. The food packet was seized as part of the investigation.
Officials said samples of the nutrition food have been preserved for testing. Authorities are now trying to determine at what stage the dead snake entered the packet and whether there was any lapse in storage, packaging or distribution.
The Women and Child Development Department said further action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation.
The incident has raised fresh concerns over quality control in government nutrition programmes aimed at supporting pregnant women and young children.