A Class VIII girl student of Ooty Municipal Urdu Middle School at Kandal died on Thursday, three days after playing a 'dare game' of eating the maximum number of iron tablets kept in the headmaster's room. Competing with her five friends, Jaiba Fatima, 13, swallowed the maximum number (45) of iron tablets.
Three other girls and two boys who competed with her complained of dizziness and were taken to the Ooty Government Medical College and Hospital.While the boys recovered, the four girls were referred to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital for further treatment. When the condition of Jaiba Fatima deteriorated, she was referred to Stanley Medical College Hospital in Chennai. She died on the way, near Salem. "Last Monday, the six students entered the headmaster's room during lunch hours and found a box containing iron tablets. They challenged each other who would eat more tablets, and started popping them in," said district chief education officer A Muniswamy.
While the two boys consumed two or three tablets each, the three girls took at least 10 tablets each. Jaiba Fatima ate three strips, each containing 15 tablets," Muniswamy said.He said he was informed about the incident only in the evening. Jaiba's mother is an Urdu teacher in the school. According to an official, iron tablets are given to girl students of Classes VIII to XII in government schools once a week. A nodal teacher has been assigned for distribution of the tablets. "Kalaivani, the nodal teacher at this school, was on leave on the day," Muniswamy said. On March 7, the education department served memos to all eight teachers and headmaster of the school seeking an explanation.