Gadag: As many as 234 school children fell ill after consuming food provided under the government's mid-day meal scheme at three places in Gadag district in North Karnataka, a senior official said on July 4.

The children studying in government schools at Naragund, Banahatti and Chikkanaragund were admitted to hospitals when they complained of stomach-ache and vomitted after they partook of the half- baked food on July 3.

Gadag district Deputy Commissioner Gonal Bheemappa said the children were out of danger and were recovering.

The mid-day meal scheme "Akshara Dasoha", which was extended throughout the state from July 1 from seven districts, had been suspended temporarily in the district, he said.

The scheme, covering 50 lakh children in Karnataka, aims at providing nutritious meals to them and checking drop-outs from Standard I to V.

Bheemappa said all precautionary steps had been taken to ensure hygiene in cooking and serving food under the scheme.

Minister for Water Resources H K Patil, who is the Gadag district Minister In-Charge, is camping at Naragund.

Tension had prevailed for some time in Naragund on July 3 after the children took ill. Some vehicles were stoned but the situation there was under control, police said.

PTI