30 kids take ill after eating jatropha seeds

SURENDRANAGAR: Over 30 primary school students at Prabhugarh in
Dhrangadhra taluka fell ill after they ate seeds of Ratan jyot' fruit
(jatropha
gossypiflora, also known as belly ache bush) from the village park on
Tuesday.

Parents rushed them to nearby Rajsitapur, where doctors
advised them to go to Surendranagar hospital. Nearly 20 children are
still undergoing treatment there.

During recess, some students went to the village park. They tasted the
seeds and spread the word that they were sweet. More students plucked
the seeds and ate them. Soon, all of them started vomiting, said police.

This recurrent episode in the district has worried citizens, who have
asked for measures to create awareness against the toxic seeds. About
two months ago, in a similar incident, several children had taken ill
after eating these plants, which are grown aplenty in this region.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Rajkot/30_kids_take_ill_after_eating_jatropha\
_seeds/articleshow/4038321.cms