印度东部地区官员说，至少20名儿童吃了学校食堂免费午餐后死亡。

印度比哈尔邦当局说，至少还有27名学生星期二在马斯拉赫一所小学吃过包括米饭和扁豆在内的午餐后，被送到医院救治，其中10人病情严重。马斯拉赫位于比哈尔邦首府帕特纳以北大约90公里。

儿童死亡事件发生后，愤怒的示威者举行了抗议活动。

一名教育机构官员说，初步调查发现食物中含有磷。到目前为止，有关方面还没有公布其他细节。

印度很多邦政府启动了为贫困儿童提供午餐的项目。营养不良是印度儿童面临的主要健康问题。
 
Officials in eastern India say at least 20 children have died after eating a free lunch cooked in the school's kitchen. 

Bihar state authorities say at least 27 other students were hospitalized after eating a meal that included rice and lentils Tuesday at a primary school in Masrakh, about 90 kilometers north of Patna, the state capital.  Ten of those children are in critical condition.

Angry demonstrators staged a protest following the children's deaths.

An education minister says a preliminary investigation indicates the food contained traces of phosphorous.  Few other details were immediately released.

Many state governments have launched midday meal programs for millions of poor children.  Malnutrition is a major health issue for Indian children.