Gov't team to probe school meal poisoning in North India

PATNA, India, July 23 (Xinhua)-- Local government of northern Indian state of Bihar on Tuesday sent a eight-member team to probe a school food poisoning case which has claimed 23 lives.

23 pupils of a public school in Bihar's Saran District died after they ate free midday meal of rice, pulses and soya beans last week at the school. So far, about 25 children are still treated at hospital in Panta, capital of Bihar State.

Blood samples of four children, who are in critical condition, were sent to Mumbai in order to carry forward the investigations.

The free midday meals in India are said to be the largest such scheme in the world. It aims at combating hunger and boost school attendance. The scheme caters to 120 million children in 1.2 million government schools across the country.

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