The families of 21 children in Bihar's Supaul spent a harrowing night in the hospital after the kids suffered from poisoning in a freak incident. The children fell sick after eating poisonous seeds of the Ratanjot baghandi plant. The kids mistook the seeds for almonds.
The incident was reported from the Triveniganj police station area of Supaul. While playing near the under-construction railway bridge in Baghla Ward No. 9, the children accidentally ate the poisonous seeds of Ratanjot (Baghnadi). After a few hours, the children, aged between 4 and 12, started puking and complaining of stomach ache. They were immediately rushed to the Triveniganj sub-divisional hospital, where they were admitted.
On-duty doctor at the hospital Surya Kishore Mehta said, "The children were brought to the hospital at 9 PM with complaints of stomach ache and vomiting. All were immediately treated, and they are out of danger now." The doctor also clarified that Ratanjot is used in limited quantities in Ayurvedic medicine. Its consumption in large quantities can cause serious health problems.
Ratanjot seed poisoning among children is reported nearly every year and more awareness is needed, especially in rural areas, to prevent such incidents.
(With inputs from Aryan, ABP News.)