94,400 tablets seized; case to be filed against M’rashtra-based firm
The iron-folic acid tablets supplied to a private school at Raja Ka Bagh in Nurpur have failed laboratory testing after five students were taken ill last December, prompting seizure of the entire batch and initiation of legal proceedings.
The sample, collected from MCS School and sent to the Drug Testing Laboratory in Baddi, did not meet prescribed quality standards. Nurpur Drug Inspector Piar Chand Thakur confirmed on Tuesday that the report was received on Monday.
The incident occurred on December 24 when five students developed sudden gastrointestinal problems after consuming iron-folic acid supplements distributed under a government-sponsored school health programme. The episode triggered panic among parents, who rushed their wards to hospitals in Nurpur and Pathankot.
Following the incident, the drug inspector froze the entire stock of the suspected batch — TAF 25006AL — comprising 94,400 tablets. After receipt of the adverse laboratory report, the frozen stock was formally seized on Tuesday for further legal action. Thakur said once mandatory legal formalities are completed, a case will be filed in court against the Palghar (Maharashtra)-based manufacturing company.
Iron-folic acid supplements are routinely distributed through schools and Anganwadi centres as part of government efforts to combat anaemia among children.
However, sources in the Health Department alleged that despite withholding supplies of the batch after the December incident, a fresh consignment bearing the same batch number was released to certain health institutions for distribution. The Primary Health Centre at Jassur in Nurpur is among the facilities that reportedly received the supply.
Kangra Chief Medical Officer Dr Vivek Karol said immediately after receiving the laboratory findings, directions were issued to all senior medical officers and block medical officers in the district to put distribution of the same batch on hold. He added that the drug inspector has been instructed to lift random samples of the same batch from other storage points and health institutions to assess whether the issue extends beyond Nurpur.
Though the affected students recovered after treatment, the development raises serious concerns.
