Eight students fall sick in Delhi after consuming iron tablets

Eight students, including seven girls, of two Delhi Government-run schools fell sick after consuming folic acid and iron supplements given to them under a government scheme, police said Thursday.

The students, aged 10-12 years, of two Sarvodaya schools in West Delhi's Bharat Nagar and Ashok Vihar area took ill Wednesday after consuming the supplements.

"The students were rushed to the Sundar Lal Jain hospital after they complained of pain in abdomen and started vomiting. They were discharged from the hospital Thursday morning. The students said that they got ill after consuming iron tablets provided by the school," a police officer said.

A case has been registered and investigation is on, the officer added.

"We carried out stomach wash of the students besides normal medical treatment. We are examining why the eight students fell ill," said Subhash Aggarwal, medical superintendent of Sunder Lal Jain hospital.

The scheme to provide iron and folic acid tablets to students was kicked off Wednesday to improve their health.

Under the programme, all adolescent students from 6th to 12th standard in government and government-aided schools will be given iron and folic acid tablets once a week.