UP: Over 120 students hospitalised in Farrukhabad, Mainpuri after deworming drive
Farrukhabad/Mainpuri (UP) (PTI): Around 120 students were hospitalised in Farrukhabad and Mainpuri districts after they fell ill during a deworming drive conducted at their schools, officials said.
The children complained of headache and vomiting shortly after being administered Albendazole tablets.
In Farrukhabad, the incident occurred on Tuesday at Jawahar Lal Prema Devi School in Rathora Mohaddinpur village of Kamalganj block.
Out of around 150 students who were given the medication, about 100 complained of discomfort, triggering panic among parents and school authorities.
According to officials, 33 students were taken to the Community Health Centre in Kamalganj, while 67 others were shifted to the Lohia Hospital at the the district headquarters.
District Magistrate Ashutosh Kumar Dwivedi visited Lohia Hospital to monitor the situation and directed doctors to ensure proper treatment.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Avanindra Kumar said the deworming campaign was conducted in schools across the district.
"Students of this particular school complained of headache and vomiting. All are stable and their condition is now normal," Dr Kumar said.
The district magistrate said the tablets were given district-wide, reports of discomfort were limited to this specific school. "All the admitted children are stable. There could be some other reason behind the sudden illness," he added.
In Mainpuri, nearly two dozen students fell ill at a government composite school in Nagla Keeratpur.
Chief Medical Officer Dr R C Gupta said the children were taken to hospital where most of them were discharged after treatment.
The incident occurred on National Deworming Day, observed on February 10 and August 10 each year, for children aged between two and 19.
Dr Gupta told reporters that two children who complained of stomach pain were admitted first. Subsequently, other students arrived with their parents for check-ups, may be due to "anxiety".
"Most of the children are fine. It does not appear to be a case of negligence. The tablets are safe and the symptoms seemed to be due to panic," the doctor said, adding that the drive was conducted under the supervision of administration authorities as part of a district-level drive.
The incident triggered sharp political reactions.
The Samajwadi Party alleged in a post on X that the situation reflected a "medical emergency" in the state and claimed that "fake medicines" were administered.
The Aam Aadmi Party alleged systemic negligence and demanded strict action against those responsible.
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) also sought government intervention, alleging that "expired or substandard" medicines were used and that there medical care was "delayed".
In a statement, ABVP's Braj secretary Anand Kathariya demanded suspension and legal action against those found guilty, a high-level inquiry and safeguards to prevent recurrence.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
345 Indian fishermen stranded in Iran return home via Armenia
New Delhi (PTI): A group of 345 Indian fishermen, who were stranded in Iran amid escalating regional tensions, returned to India via Armenia on Saturday, officials said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar thanked his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan for assistance in return of the Indian nationals.
The Indian nationals arrived in Chennai this evening, the officials cited above said.
The circumstances that led to them being stranded in Iran were not immediately known.
"Thank FM @AraratMirzoyan and the Government of Armenia for facilitating the evacuation of Indian fishermen today from Iran, through Armenia to India," Jaishankar said on social media.
Over 1,500 Indian nationals have left Iran through land border crossings in Armenia and Azerbaijan since the start of the West Asia conflict over a month ago.
"A group of Indian fishermen, stranded in Iran, are returning home via Armenia today; their flight is expected to reach India this evening," a government statement said.
It said the Ministry of External Affairs continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the West Asian region, with the safety, security and welfare of the Indian community being accorded the highest priority.
It also made a mention of five Indians being injured in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
According to Abu Dhabi authorities, the Indian nationals were among the 12 people injured by debris from an intercepted missile.
"In an attack in Abu Dhabi, five Indian nationals were injured; four have been discharged, one remains under treatment," the Indian government's statement said.
It said the Indian mission in Abu Dhabi is extending "full" assistance and coordinating with local authorities, adding that their flight is expected to reach India this evening.
