Lucknow: Four children with special needs have died, and several others were hospitalized after suspected food poisoning caused by contaminated water at a rehabilitation center in Lucknow, officials reported. The tragic incident occurred on Tuesday evening at the Nirvana Rehabilitation Center on Mohan Road, located in the Uttar Pradesh capital.
Lucknow District Magistrate Vishak G confirmed that the deceased children—two girls and two boys, aged between 12 and 17—have been sent for post-mortem, with viscera samples preserved for further examination.
Dr. Rajeev Kumar Dixit, Medical Superintendent of Lok Bandhu Raj Narayan Combined Hospital, stated that around 20 children from the center were admitted to the hospital, suffering from severe dehydration.
"All these children are mentally challenged. Despite our best efforts, two of them tragically succumbed,” he said. Two critically ill children were referred to another government hospital, while the condition of the remaining 16 children has improved. Health officials reported over 15 children suffered from diarrhea and vomiting after consuming contaminated water.
The deceased children are Renu and Deepa. A medical team has been dispatched to the shelter home to monitor the health of the remaining residents. Authorities are investigating the cause of the illness, and a postmortem is planned to determine the exact cause.
The Lucknow District Magistrate stated the Nirvana Rehabilitation Centre operates under a Public-Private Partner - ship model. A team, under the supervision of the chief medical officer, has been sent. Initial findings suggest contaminated water consumption led to the outbreak.
