Kolkata, March 2 (IANS) At least 15 monkeys were found dead in a swimming pool in West Bengal's Darjeeling district Tuesday under mysterious circumstances, a senior forest official said.

The incident took place in Bangdubi area of Siliguri sub-division. The bodies were recovered from a swimming pool that belonged to the Indian Army.

'We have received the information this morning (Tuesday) from the army personnel and we have sent our teams to the spot. Our officials are investigating the matter,' the state's Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Atanu Raha said.

He said the forest department officials would determine whether the monkeys were deliberately poisoned or if they died of some disease.

'It's really very alarming. Such an incident never happened in any part of this state earlier. We'll send the bodies for post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death,' Raha said, adding the army personnel were cooperating with the state forest department officials to probe the case.