More than 59 female students from Bebee Mariam high school in Taloqan the capital of northeastern Takhar province were apparently poisoned early Sunday, local officials said.

The provincial head of Public Health Kanishka Baktash Turkistani, confirming the incident said that it is not yet clear how the girls were poisoned or whether the symptoms were caused by their mental condition.

"The reports we received suggest that the students have been poisoned, " he said

Screaming, fatigue, stomach ache, and vomiting were of symptoms shown by the girls, he said.

The girls are aged between 8 and 22.

Police have started investigating the incident.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has said that the incident happened due to air and environment pollution.

"Our investigation shows that there was no opposition involvement and this incident took place because of air pollution and mental state of students," said Amanullah Eman, Ministry of Education´s spokesman.

Meanwhile, the family of the students have expressed concern about the incident and warned the government that if it happens again, they will not let their daughters go to the schools.

"If the government can't provide security of schools, then it is better to close school doors and this is really shameful. National Security Directorate and other security institutions must pay serious attention," one of the students' relative said.

No group has claimed responsibility for the incident.

It comes as nearly a month ago more than 20 schools girls were poisoned in Bebee Hajira high school in the province.

Last year more than 800 school girls were poisoned in three schools in the province.

School poisoning has turned into a major problem for the Afghan government, especially with Takhar female students seemingly being the main targets.