Patna:
12 students from Chhapra district in Bihar are in hospital in Patna, a day after they drank what appears to be contaminated water from a tube well at their government school.
In a separate incident, 55 girls in the Sitamarhi district, about 150 kms from Chhapra, were also hospitalised today after drinking water from a hand pump at their school.
Some fainted within minutes, said officials, and were moved to local clinics, where they are reported to be in stable condition.
Last month, Chhapra endured the lacerating tragedy of losing 23 children after they ate a poisoned free lunch at their school. Another 20 children were admitted to the Patna Medical College, and are still being treated there, nearly two weeks later.
The children who fell sick after drinking water on Thursday are admitted at the same hospital, the Patna Medical College.
At least six different cases of children falling sick from the water at their schools have been reported in recent days across the state.
The state government says children are falling ill notbecause of water from hand pumps but there seems to be some contamination which"is done externally" but it will be confirmed once the forensicreport is received.
Amarjeet Sinha, a senior official in the Education Department, said schools have been asked to conduct safety tests on water.