50 students fall ill after taking iron pills in schools in Assam

Officials said that altogether 50 students of two schools in Assam’s Charaideo district were taken ill on Saturday purportedly after consuming iron-folic acid (IFA) tablets provided by Health department workers.

The students were taken to the Sonari Civil Hospital, where they were treated and discharged later.

The officials said a health workers’ team from Batau sub-centre under Patsaku Block primary health centre distributed IFA tablets to 75 students of Kheranipathar Lower Primary School and 26 students of Nimalia Lower Primary School.

The students were warned not to take the tablets on an empty stomach when the medications were given out in front of the teachers.

The health team eventually learned from the school administration that two students from each school were vomiting and experiencing abdominal pain.

“They were immediately taken to Sonari Civil Hospital and further health intervention. Later, 48 more children were taken to the hospital for examination,” a source said.

A health department release said the situation is being closely monitored.

The government provides IFA tablets to students as an iron-folic acid supplement.