At least 50 children in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district fell ill on Wednesday following a de-worming exercise to bring down parasitic infections, an official said.
"In Basanti area of the district, 50 children experienced symptoms of nausea following de-worming. These were normal side effects. As many as 11 are under observation while the others have been discharged," said state health services director B.R. Satpathy.
He dismissed reports of 500 children being affected.
"Seeing the ill children, others panicked and gathered at the local hospital," he said.