Patna, August 1 (IANS): Twenty-four children were taken ill Thursday after drinking water from a handpump at a school in Bihar's Saran district, officials said. Last month, 23 children lost their lives after consuming contaminated mid-day meal in a school in the same district.

Thursday's incident took place at the government middle school in Maulanapur village under Parsa block, a district police officer said.

"After initial treatment at a nearby primary health facility, all children except two were referred to PMCH (Patna Medical College and Hospital) for treatment. The two children were admitted to the Sadar hospital in district headquarters town of Saran," an official said.

According to officials, the children complained of pain in the stomach and started vomiting soon after drinking water from the handpump.

As the news of the children having taken ill after drinking handpump water spread, hundreds of villagers staged protests by blocking roads and damaging government vehicles, the police officer said.

District Magistrate Abhijit Sinha, who rushed to the village after being informed about the incident, had to face the protesters' ire as they forced him to return without visiting the school.

Last month, 23 children lost their lives after consuming contaminated mid-day meal in a school in Saran district.

The mid-day meal scheme is running in 72,000 schools across the state, and 1.60 crore students avail hot, freshly cooked meals under the scheme.