CNN
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Indian health authorities are investigating reports that hundreds of children, including snakes who died in schools last week, were served food.
CNN Affiliate CNN News 18 reported that 100 children who consumed contaminated lunch have fallen ill in the town of Mokama. At least 20 students were hospitalized on April 24th.
Citing local media, according to the country’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), school chefs paid for their meals after removing the snake ruins.
“The cook reportedly provided food to the children after removing the dead snake,” the committee said in a statement.
According to the committee, some of the children showed symptoms of dizziness and vomiting. The fear of health caused rage among the villagers, who blocked the local highway in protest.
The NHRC issued a two-week deadline to Bihar police to report on the incident and sought an urgent update on the health of the child.
The report “supposes a serious issue of violating the human rights of students, if so,” the committee added.
India operates the world’s largest free school lunch scheme as a way to provide better nutrition and keep children educated.
In 2013, such dietary pesticides killed at least 23 students, urging the government to improve safety standards.
