School meal kills 21 in India

At least 21 children have died and dozens more have fallen sick after eating a tainted school meal in India’s eastern state of Bihar, BBC reports.

The poisoning occurred at a government school in the village of Masrakh in Saran district.

An inquiry has begun and 200,000 rupees ($3,370) in compensation offered to the families of each of the dead.

India’s Mid-Day Meal Scheme provides free food to try to boost attendance, but often suffers from poor hygiene.

At least 28 sick children were taken to hospitals in the nearby town of Chhapra and the state capital, Patna, after the incident.

A total of 47 students of a primary school in Dharmasati Gandaman village fell sick on Tuesday after eating the free lunch.

There are fears the number of dead could rise as some of the children, all below the age of 12, are critically ill.

The father of one sick child, Raja Yadav, said his son was vomiting after returning from school and had to be rushed to hospital.

The state education minister, PK Shahi, told the BBC a preliminary investigation indicated that the food was contaminated with traces of phosphorous.