Coimbatore : Three children died and 11 others fell ill after suspected food poisoning at a private children's home in Tamil Nadu's Tirupur on Wednesday.
According to the district administration, the incident occurred at a children's home in Tirupur run by Sri Vivekananda Sevalayam where 14 children started vomiting and suffered dizziness after having dinner on Wednesday night. The children were then rushed to a nearby private hospital.
After the condition of the children became serious they were bought to Tirupur Government Hospital. Child Protection Unit and Police are investigating the matter.
Eleven children are now currently admitted to the Tirupur Government Hospital. Police are suspecting food poisoning behind the possible cause of the death of the children. A case was registered against the private children's home.
Tirupur Collector S Vineeth said, "Three children have died. Officials are suspecting food poisoning but the exact reason for the children's death will be known after clinical investigation of samples. According to information from the private home, the children were served Rasam Rice as dinner. The food samples have been sent for testing. The exact cause of death will be known after clinical investigation."
"11 children are getting treatment at Tirupur Government Hospital. Three children are in the ICU ward. The investigation is going on. A case has been registered against private home administration," added the official.
Police are investigating and inquiring about the people running the home.
NCPCR ask state secretary to porbe
Apex child rights body NCPCR on Thursday asked the Tamil Nadu chief secretary to probe on urgent basis the alleged deaths of children at an orphanage in the state.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) said it has come across news reports that three orphan children died and over 15 fell sick after consuming food in Sri Vivekananda Sevalayam, a private orphanage home in Tirrupur District of Tamil Nadu.
In a letter to the Tamil Nadu chief secretary, the child rights body said the authorities concerned should also be given directions for proper and specialised treatment of the children who are admitted to the hospital.
"The Commission thereby requests your good offices to investigate the matter on an urgent basis since there is a grave child rights violation and lapse on the part of the administration of the said orphanage," the NCPCR said.
It has sought a response from the top official within 48 hours.
