Lucknow: Death Toll Rises To Four, 16 Still In Hospital After Food Poisoning At Govt Rehabilitation Centre

Lucknow Food Poisoning Update: The death toll rose to four, and 16 special needs children are still undergoing treatment after having dinner at a government rehabilitation centre in Lucknow's Para area, according to officials. More than 20 special needs children staying at the centre were unwell on Tuesday evening, presumably as a result of food poisoning, and were sent to Lok Bandhu Hospital.

Lucknow District Magistrate Vishak G told PTI, “A total of four children including two girls and two boys of the shelter home aged between 12 and 17 years of age have died. Their bodies have been sent for post-mortem and their viscera will be preserved."

Approximately 20 children were transported from the rehabilitation centre to the hospital on Tuesday night, according to Dr Rajeev Kumar Dixit, Medical Superintendent of Lok Bandhu Raj Narayan Combined Hospital, who spoke to PTI Videos.

“All these children are mentally challenged. They were severely dehydrated when they arrived. Despite our best efforts, two children died," he said.

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According to him, two more seriously ill children who were sent to a different government hospital passed away. He noted that the conditions of 16 others have improved.

To monitor the remaining children's health, a medical team has been dispatched to the shelter house.

“Around seven children were under medical observation at the shelter home. The health department team deputed at the shelter home is keeping an eye on the children there," the DM said.

To find out what caused the purported food poisoning, he established a committee.

Brajesh Pathak, the Health Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, met children at Lokbandhu Hospital on Thursday.