Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu:
The death of an eight-year-old girl in Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu after consuming a soft drink may be due to poisoning most probably caused by the presence of compounds used in pesticides or insecticides, official sources said.
Four children, including a three-year-old boy of Anjapuli, a contract labourer of Therku Seplanatham village, developed symptoms including nausea on the night of February 9 after consuming soft drink suspected to be contaminated.
Eight-year-old Abirami died without responding to treatment at a hospital and the other three children were shifted to JIPMER hospital in Puducherry where seven-year-old Lalithaa was put on a ventilator.
The symptoms and the condition of the children indicate occurence of "organophosphorus (compounds used in insecticide and pesticide) poisoning," and the child who died must have consumed quantity which was been lethal," highly placed official sources told PTI.
"Maybe, the soft drink had been pilfered, adulterated or contaminated," an official said, adding, the viscera examination of the dead child and analysis of soft drink would make things clear.
On the health condition of children, JIPMER authorities said Lalitha (she suffered serious breathing difficulties) has been taken off the ventilator and the other two children -- Kausalya (6), and Paramasivan (3), were doing fine.
"Lalithaa is on IV fluids, she is also orally administered medicine. We are observing the children. Hopefully, they will be discharged in a few days," a senior JIPMER medical officer said.