Tirupur District Collector Vineeth personally met the remaining 11 children who are undergoing treatment at the Government Hospital in Tirupur. The children fell ill after eating dinner at Vivekananda Sevalayam orphanage on Poondi Ring Road, near Avinashi Road in Tirupur district.
Tirupur: Vivekananda Sevalayam orphanage located at Poondi Ring Road, near Avinashi Road in Tirupur district houses over 20 children who were abandoned by their parents or were orphaned. All of them are students from Classes 5 to 8, in a Government school in Ammapalayam area. Food is cooked and served to them every day at their shelter home.
After eating rasam rice as part of their dinner on Wednesday night, over 15 children suddenly began vomiting and fainting. Following this, the warden who was on duty at the shelter home reportedly took only a few of the ill children to a nearby hospital and treated them. On Thursday morning, more than 10 boys showed signs of fever, vomiting and fainting.
Following this, four 108 ambulances were used to take the boys to the Tirupur Government Hospital.
Meanwhile, a medical examination conducted on two boys in the shelter home itself revealed that both boys, Madhesh and Attis were already dead.
A boy named Babu who had been in a critical condition was rushed to a private hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Nine children who were brought from the shelter home are presently undergoing treatment at the Tirupur Government Hospital. Doctors have assured that the admitted children are stable now. The Tirupur District Collector, Vineeth personally visited the children who are undergoing treatment and enquired about the details of the treatment from the doctors.
Speaking to reporters later, District Collector Vineeth said, "Rasam rice was given to children at Vivekananda Sevalayam last night. 14 of the boys who ate it suffered from physical ailments, including diarrhoea and fainting. The warden immediately took some children for treatment last night. Three children died this morning. Another 11 people have now been admitted to the Government Hospital for treatment. As a first step, the food eaten by the children has been sent for testing.
The urine and stools of the children undergoing treatment have also been sent for testing. It is only at the end of this test that a clear report on how the boys died will be obtained. The police have registered a case in this regard and are investigating. An inquiry will be conducted with the administrator of Vivekananda Sevalaya. At present, the children who are undergoing treatment are being given water-related medicines.