Lucknow, Mar 27: Four children, including two girls, died at a government-run rehabilitation centre in Lucknow on Thursday due to suspected food poisoning, officials said. Twenty children were rushed to Lok Bandhu Hospital on Tuesday evening, and 16 have shown signs of improvement.
Lucknow District Magistrate Vishak G. Iyer has formed a committee to investigate the incident, and food samples have been collected from the rehabilitation centre for analysis.
“A total of four children, including two girls and two boys, aged between 12 and 17, have died. Their bodies have been sent for post-mortem, and their viscera will be preserved,” Iyer told PTI.
Health and Food Safety Department officials visited the hospital and questioned the children. A separate team collected food samples from the rehab centre for further examination.
Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav criticised the BJP government over the incident, posting on social media platform X, “The series of children’s deaths that began in Gorakhpur has not stopped. This is a sign of a failed government. Only the families of the children know their true value.”
Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Brajesh Pathak attributed the tragedy to food poisoning, saying, “The incident occurred due to food poisoning. We are monitoring the situation closely. The children are stable, and there is no cause for concern.”
District Probation Officer Vikas Singh said the rehabilitation centre houses 147 children, many requiring special care. He stressed the need for ensuring their safety to prevent such incidents in the future.
