India children fall ill 'after dead snake found in school meal'

The cook reportedly still served the lunch after removing the snake, India's human rights body says.

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The cook reportedly still served the lunch despite removing the dead animal from it, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said in a statement.

The commission said about 500 children are believed to have been served the meal in the city of Mokama in Bihar state, eastern India.

After children started falling sick, locals blocked a road in protest, the NHRC said.

"The commission has observed that the contents, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of the human rights of the students," it said.