70 schoolkids fall ill after being given iron tablets

LUCKNOW - As many as 70 students of a primary school in Uttar Pradeshs Jhansi district were hospitalised Friday after they fell ill on consuming iron and de-worming tablets given by government medical staff, officials said. All the students are now out of danger.

Over 100 students of the government-run Durgapur Primary School were administered the tablets in a health camp organised at school between 11:30 a.m. to 12 noon.

“After consuming the tablets, a handful of students started complaining of stomach ache and were taken to a hospital. Later, after having their lunch under the midday meal scheme, several students suddenly started vomiting and were rushed to the hospital,” official in-charge of primary education Pradeep Kumar Maurya told IANS on telephone from Jhansi, some 350 km from Lucknow.

“All the 70 students are being treated at the district hospital. The students are from Classes 1-5,” he added.

The district administration has ordered an enquiry into the case.

Asked what could have possibly caused the students to fall ill, chief medical officer D.P. Kaushik told IANS: Though the exact reason would be ascertained only after the enquiry, it seems there could be some problems with the iron tablets.”

“At present, there is nothing to worry. All the students are out of danger,” he added.