Lucknow, Nov 4 (IANS) Five children were killed in Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnore district after eating Jatropha seeds, mistaking them for cashew nuts, an official said Tuesday.

‘The children, who were playing in the fields, probably mistook Jatropha seeds for cashew nuts and ate them,’ chief medical officer S.P. Singh told IANS on phone.

The incident took place in Mandwar village of Bjinore district, over 250 km from Lucknow.

‘The deaths have been reported in the past 24 hours from a private hospital, where the children were admitted,’ Singh said.

According to officials, the children were admitted to the hospital after they complained of severe abdominal pain, headache, dizziness and vomiting.

Jatropha is an oilseed plant. Its seeds are not edible, but produce oil that can substitute diesel.

Last week, nearly 20 children were hospitalised in Jalaun district after eating Jatropha seeds.