Tainted School Lunch Kills 22 Children, Riots Follow

A Tainted School Lunch has tragically led to the deaths of 22 children at a government school in the state of Bihar, India.

Up to 30 others are suffering from food poisoning, some severe some less so. The affected children were taken to various hospitals in Patna. Upset locals and bereaved family members rioted causing serious damage in the local area.

Numerous complaints regarding food safety have been made, as the food is often prepared in disgusting conditions. The government gives meals as part of its campaign to help children get the correct nourishment.

For its part the government has already agreed to pay compensation of around $3,500 to each family. an official inquiry is under way.

Mr P.K. Shahi, education minister of Bihar, said that traces of phosphorous had already been found in the food:

“The doctors who have attended are of the tentative opinion that the smell coming out of the bodies of the children suggests that the food contained organo-phosphorus, which is a poisonous substance. Now the investigators have to find out whether organo-phosphorus was accidental or there was some deliberate mischief.”

Another education official. Amarjeet Sinha, also commented to the BBC saying:

“We suspect it to be poisoning caused by insecticides in vegetable or rice.”

The condition of the other affected people, both adults and children, are not yet clear but there is no question that this tainted school lunch incident is tragic beyond words. Results of the official inquiry by authorities will be forthcoming in the next few weeks.