At least 20 children have died and dozen others hospitalized after eating free meal at a primary school in Indias eastern state of Bihar.The poisoning took place on Tuesday after the children, aged 8 to 11, were served a meal of rice and lentils cooked at the school in Masrakh village in Bihars Saran district.
"It is sad but true that 20 children died after eating their midday meal, which appears to be poisonous," Bihar states education minister P K Shahi said.
The minister also said that preliminary tests suggests that the food had had traces of phosphorous, used to preserve rice and wheat.
An investigation has been launched and compensation of 200,000 rupees (USD 3,370) would be paid to the families of each of the dead.
State official Amarjit Sinha said that 27 children and the school cook were taken to hospital in Patna, adding ten of them are in critical condition.
Meanwhile, hundreds of people staged demonstrations against the state government.
"Hundreds of angry people staged a protest in Saran since late Tuesday night, demanding stern action against government officials responsible for this shocking incident," district government official S K Mall said.
Free meals are offered to poor students at government schools as part of the countrys welfare measures in many of the states.
Free lunches are popular with poor families and are considered as a way to increase school attendance.
But food poisoning often happen among children because of poor hygiene in school kitchens and the sub-standard quality of the food.
By Press TV
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