Ranchi, Dec 12 (IANS): A woman in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh district claimed her husband died due to starvation after he failed to procure foodgrains. The administration has denied the claim.

"Prima facie it does not appear to be a case of starvation death. We have provided relief to family like foodgrains and cash for last rites," Ravi Shankar Shukla, Deputy Commissioner of Hazaribagh district told IANS on Monday, adding a probe has been ordered into the incident.

According to local media reports on Monday, 40-year-old Indradeo Mali's wife on Sunday claimed her husband died as he was not "provided foodgrains for the last three days". The cash crunch also added to his problems as he was unable to purchase foodgrains.

Indradeo, a labourer, was a resident of Sarugaru village in Hazaribagh district. His wife claimed there was no food in the house.

Arti Devi, the mukhiya (village head) of Sarugaru village informed the administration about the incident, which angered the villagers.

More than half of Jharkhand's population are living below the poverty line. The state produces half of the foodgrains against the state's overall requirement.