Centre to send five-member expert team to assist Rajasthan Govt.

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J.P. Nadda on Sunday directed for a special five-member expert team to be sent to assist the Rajasthan Government to investigate into the causes of water and food contamination that are reported to have resulted in the death of 11 specially-abled persons in the state-run home of the state government at Jamdoli in Rajasthan.

The five-member team will include a senior paediatrician, epidemiologist and microbiologist and will reach Jaipur today.

The team shall investigate into the causes that led to the incident and also suggest public health measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

Nadda stated that he has spoken to the Rajasthan's Health Minister who has informed that necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future have been taken.

The Union Health Minister assured him of all support. A detailed report in the incident is expected shortly, he added.

The Rajasthan Government had earlier suspended two deputy directors, one coastal superintendent, one caretaker and two doctors in connection with the deaths.

Taking a strong exception to the episode, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has issued instructions for strict action against all government officials responsible for the incident.

Raje, who held a high-level meeting on this issue with Rajendra Rathore, state Social Justice and Empowerment MinisterArun Chaturvedi and Chief Secretary C.S. Rajan, said even senior officers, if found responsible, would not be spared.

Eleven people with special needs, who were staying at a government-run home in Rajasthan's Jamdoli, were reported dead after allegedly drinking contaminated water.

Another three children were admitted in critical condition at a hospital here.

Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognizance of media reports of death of children with special needs and issued notices to the Raje-led government.