Nine more school students died on Wednesday due to food poisoning after consuming midday meal at a government primary school in Bihar’s Saran district taking the death toll to 20, official sources said.
Twenty seven others, including the woman cook, were taken seriously ill and have been shifted to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), Principal Secretary Education Department Amarjit Sinha told a news agency.
The incident took place in Dharamsati primary school in Masrakh in Saran. The children belonging to the age group of 8 to 12 years, fell ill soon after eating the meal, which consisted of rice, pulse and soyabean, police said.
Principal Secretary, education, Amarjeet Sinha said that he suspected the deaths occurred by organo phosphorous poisoning caused due to traces of insecticides.
Meanwhile, violent protests have erupted in Chapra district today. Reports said that people armed with sticks and rods set blaze a bus and damaged public property. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Bharatiya Janata Party are observing Saran bandh today in protest against the incident.
Nitish Kumar expressed shock over the incident and announced a compensation of Rs.2 lakh to the kin of each of the dead school children. He also summoned Shahi to discuss the issue.