12 girls fall ill after taking iron, folic acid tablets

Twelve students of a government school near here fell ill after they were administered iron and folic acid tablets by school authorities.
The students of the girls' school in Gokalpur-Kumbhawas village consumed the pills yesterday after which they complained of stomach pain, giddiness and cramps in hands and legs.
They were were admitted to the local health centre this morning.
Bhagwan Das, headmaster of the school, said the students were given iron pills for the third time.
Chief Medical Officer Vijay Singh Yadav said the girls have been treated and were under observation.
There have been a number of cases of school children falling ill during the past two weeks across Haryana after being administered the pills, which are being given to them as part of a campaign to combat anaemia.

However, top health officials have sought to allay fears, saying there were minor side-effects of the tablets in some children, which was normal.