INDIAN HEADMISTRESS FLEES WITH HER KIDS AFTER ORDERING COOK TO SERVE CONTAMINATED FOOD TO PUPILS LEAVING 23 DEAD

The headmistress of the Indian school where 23 primary school pupils were killed by lunch contaminated with pesticides has fled with her family leaving other mothers mourning.Police claim she forced a reluctant cook to serve up the food.

Authorities say the cook had warned Meena Devi, head of the rural school in the eastern state of Bihar, that the cooking oil may have been contaminated as it looked strange and gave off a foil smell when heated, but the headmistresses would not be bothered.

A Police Superintendent, Sujeet Kumar said the headmistress said "continue cooking and serve the food to the children",' and soon after the potato curry and rice was served at the school in rural Chappra, Bihar, one of India's poorest states, pupils started complaining of stomach cramps, then began to vomit and collapse.

Mr Amarjeet Sinha, a top official in Bihar said 'It's not a case of food poisoning. It's a case of poison in food in a large quantity, going by the instant deaths.

The dead children have been buried in their own play ground.

The headmistress has since fled but investigation is on going.