Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Around 80 students from a district council school in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district were hospitalized after consuming biscuits provided as part of a nutritional meal program, media reports said.

The children began experiencing nausea and vomiting after eating the biscuits around 8:30 a.m. on Saturday at the school in Keket Jalgaon village, according to a local official.

On becoming aware of the situation, the village head and other authorities arrived at the school and arranged for transportation to a hospital.

The students were taken to a rural hospital, where their condition was reported to be stable.

Dr. Babasaheb Ghughe, a medical officer at the hospital, said, "On Saturday morning, around 8:30 a.m., 257 students showed symptoms of food poisoning after consuming biscuits. Of these, 153 were brought to the hospital, where some were treated and sent home."

However, seven students with severe symptoms were transferred to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Civil Hospital for further treatment, Dr. Ghughe added.

The school has a total of 296 students.

An investigation has been initiated to find the cause of the food poisoning.