Suspected food poisoning led to the deaths of three boys at a home for the destitute in the nearby town of Tirupur, and 11 more children were being treated in the government hospital, according to officials.
Dinner on Wednesday for the lads included laddu and rice mixed with “rasam.” After eating, boys had diarrhea, and some of them vomited.
On Thursday morning, they had breakfast, and their condition deteriorated and some fell unconscious, officials said. All of them were admitted to a private hospital, and they were later shifted to government hospitals in Tirupur and Avinashi, they said.
However, three boys between the ages of 8 and 13 died in the hospital, and three more were brought to the intensive care unit (ICU). Following preliminary complaints of food poisoning, samples were gathered and sent for testing, according to Tirupur District Collector S. Vineeth, who visited the hospital.
If proven guilty after the investigation, the home — Sri Vivekananda Home For Destitute — will face harsh punishment, he said. Police are looking into the situation and asking questions of the homeowners.