A five-year-old boy died today and two others remained hospitalised after they consumed iron tablets given to them by the local municipal corporation at an anganwadi centre, officials said.
The iron pills were administered yesterday to 30 kids enrolled at three anganwadi centres located in Sanjay Nagar here under the state government's School Health Programme to fight anaemia.
After consuming the tablets, three kids got ill and were rushed to the government hospital. However, Rohit Khernar's condition deteriorated while undergoing treatment and he died.
"Khernar was admitted after he and two other children complained of health problems after taking iron pills. His condition deteriorated and blood was found in his stool. He eventually died," said Surat Municipal Corporation's Medical officer, Ashish Naik.
He said, "We have been running the school health programme since long where we provide iron tablets to counter anaemia, but never came across such a situation".
Naik said Khernar's body has been sent for postmortem to ascertain the exact cause of death.
