Omer Farooq BBC reporter in Hyderabad

At least 140 children became sick in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh after eating food provided on the first day of a government free-meals scheme for schools.

Most complained of stomach pains and dizziness, but at least 10 had to be put on saline drips.

The state Chief Minister Chandra Babu Naidu expressed his deep concern over the incident and ordered a high-level inquiry.

The huge scheme has been launched at a cost of 2.5 billion rupees ($52 million) for about 7.5 million children at primary and upper-primary schools.

'No cause for concern'

Officials said that children complained of sickness in three schools in the districts of Guntur, Khammam and Anantapur.

The officials said the condition of the children was generally good and there was no cause for concern.

In Khammam district, about 300 kilometres north-east of the state capital Hyderabad, at least 70 children fell sick and were admitted to the government hospital in Sattupally.

Officials in Anantapur district, 450km south of Hyderabad, said 30 children at a primary school at Penchalapadu village had to be admitted to hospital when they complained of stomach pains and headache.

And 40 children at a school in Guntur, 250km east of Hyderabad, were rushed to hospital after they fell sick soon after having the meals.

Different cooks

The food scheme is not the first Andhra Pradesh has launched.

The popular film star-turned-Chief Minister NT Rama Rao launched a similar programme in 1984 but it had to be scrapped after charges of massive corruption and misuse of funds by public servants under the pretext of supplying school meals.

Mr Naidu had warned officials against any similar attempts in this programme.

Observers say that this time instead of officials the responsibility for cooking and serving the food was given to a self-help group of women.