The death toll of children who fell ill after having a mid-day meal at a state-run primary school in Bihar's Saran district rose to 19 Wednesday. Ten of the 27 children admitted in hospital remain critical as protests erupted in Saran.
Confirming the deaths, principal secretary, education, Amarjeet Sinha said he suspected the deaths occurred by organo phosphorous poisoning caused due to traces of insecticides.
Till late night Tuesday, District Magistrate Abhijit Sinha said 10 children died after the mid-day meal at Dharamsati primary school in Masrakh in Saran, about 100 km from here. Later, eleven more children died and more than 60 fell ill.
Over two dozen sick children have been brought to the Patna Medical College and Hospital after their condition deteriorated. "Ten children are still critical," a hospital official said.
Hundreds of people have been protesting in Saran since late Tuesday night, demanding strict action against government officials responsible for the tragedy.
Twenty dead children were buried near the school.
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An case has been registered against the school's headmistress Meena Devi and other teachers.
Bihar Chief Minister 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.
In Bihar, widespread corruption is reported in the mid-day meal scheme and government guidelines on food quality are ignored.
In the past, dead lizards, frogs, insects and a rat were found in food cooked for the mid-day meal, angering students and parents.