Palghar: 2 Students, Cook Injured After Pressure Cooker Explodes During Mid-Day Meal at ZP School

A pressure cooker exploded during the preparation of a mid-day meal at Sopara Zilla Parishad (ZP) School in Nalasopara West on Tuesday afternoon, injuring a helper and two students. While one child sustained minor injuries, a 10-year-old student suffered severe facial burns and was shifted to J J Hospital in Mumbai for specialised care, officials said.

The incident occurred while khichdi was being prepared and served to students, PTI reported. According to police, the cook had prepared the meal and was opening the pressure cooker when its lid suddenly blew off with force, sending hot food and steam toward people nearby. Bihar Mid-Day Meal Horror: More Than 2 Dozen Students Fall Ill After Detergent Is Added Instead of Salt (Video).

How Did The Pressure Cooker Explode?

The incident took place at the Zilla Parishad school in the Sopara village area of Nalasopara West during the lunch break. According to police, the cook was opening a pressure cooker containing khichdi when the lid suddenly came off with force.

The blast caused panic inside the school as teachers and staff rushed to help the injured. The children suffered burn injuries from the hot food and steam. The injured students and cook were taken to a nearby municipal hospital for treatment.

As per media reports, Class 3 student Ayush Chaudhary and Class 4 student Prasad Gautam sustained burn injuries in the incident. Officials said one child suffered minor injuries, while a 10-year-old student sustained severe facial burns. The seriously injured student was subsequently shifted to J J Hospital in Mumbai for specialised treatment. The cook was also injured during the incident.

Mayor Aajiv Patil was informed about the incident and reached the school to inspect the kitchen. He spoke with school authorities to understand the circumstances surrounding the accident.

Patil later visited the injured students at the hospital and enquired about their condition. The inspection comes as authorities examine how the pressure cooker was being used and what led to the sudden release of the lid.

The incident has raised concerns about safety arrangements in the school kitchen, particularly the handling of pressure cookers used to prepare meals under the Mid-Day Meal arrangement. Pressure cookers are routinely used to prepare large quantities of food in institutional kitchens, making equipment condition, operating procedures and safety practices important considerations. The administration is investigating the exact cause of the incident.

Authorities are expected to examine the pressure cooker and the circumstances surrounding the accident as part of the inquiry. The investigation will also determine whether there were any equipment-related or procedural issues involved in the incident.

Meanwhile, the injured students are receiving medical with a 10-year-old child suffering severe facial burns and requiring specialised treatment in Mumbai. The incident has also prompted scrutiny of safety arrangements in the school kitchen. Authorities are investigating care, with the more seriously injured child shifted to Mumbai for specialised treatment.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 09, 2026 11:57 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).