New Delhi: Four children, including three siblings died after they consumed “poisonous” toffee in Kasya area of Kushinagar district on Wednesday morning, said the officials as reported by news agency PTI.
The deceased children were identified as three siblings — Manjana (5), Sweety (3) and Samar (2). Five-year-old Arun who lived nearby is the fourth deceased, they said.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences over the incident and ordered an investigation into the matter. He also directed officials to provide assistance to the grieving family.
The police suspect that someone had thrown the “poisonous” toffee on the road, and that they are waiting for the autopsy report to get a clear picture, reported the Indian Express.
The local residents alleged that the delay in the arrival of the ambulance was one of the reasons for the deaths of the children, IANS reported
According to villagers, Mukhia Devi, a resident of Dilipnagar village, discovered a plastic bag while sweeping her house in the morning. She found five toffees and some coins in the plastic bag, said Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of Kushinagar, Varun Kumar Pandey.
Devi then offered the toffees to her three grandchildren and another child from the neighbourhood, ADM Varun Kumar Pandey added.
The children went unconscious after consuming the alleged poisonous toffees and were rushed to the district hospital where doctors declared them brought dead, the ADM said.
The remaining lone toffee has been preserved for forensic examination and a probe is underway, he added.