NEW DELHI: India`s human rights body said on Thursday it was investigating reports more than 100 children fell sick after eating a school lunch served after a dead snake was found in the food.

`Reportedly, the cook served the food to the children after removing a dead snake from it, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said in a statement.

The meal was served last week in a government-run school in the city of Mokama in Bihar, one of India`s poorest states, it said.

The commission demanded local government officials and police investigate media reports that `more than 100 children fell ill` after eating the school lunch. The incident sparked angry demonstrations from the children`s families.

`The news about the childrenfalling ill, due to the consumption of the midday meal, led to the blocking of the road by the protesting villagers,` it said.

Free lunches are offered to millions of children in government schools throughout India, seen by authorities as a way to encourage children to continue their education.

The commission said it demanded a `detailed report` from senior state officials and the police, to include `the health status of the children`. It said the report, if confirmed, poses the `serious issue of violation of the human rights of the students, the statement added.

In 2013, 23 schoolchildren died after being served a meal laced with pesticides in Saran district of Bihar. The disaster prompted the government to improve food safety in schools.-AFP