BHIMDUTTANAGAR:  At least 20 persons have fallen sick after consuming a dead goat's meat in Jhalari Pipladi Municipality of Kanchanpur district on Monday.

According to Assistant Sub-Inspector Ganesh Ghimire of the Area Police Office, Jhalari, among the 20, condition of two children, Pabitra Joshi (7) and Bhuwan Raj Joshi (8), is critical.

Pabitra's mother Gauri (32) had also taken ill after consuming the meat, police said.

The meat was sold by a local butcher, Dil Bahadur Aire, Ghimire said.

He said that 16 are being treated at a local health post and four have already returned home after receiving treatment.