Jaipur, April 29 (IANS) The Rajasthan government on Friday said a high-level committee has been set up to probe the death of 11 people, including nine children, in a government-run residential facility for the mentally challenged in Jamdoli near here.
"We have formed a high-level committee to investigate the deaths," Rajasthan Social Welfare Minister Arun Chaturvedi told the media here.
The deaths occurred between April 16 and April 27.
The minister said eight people were admitted in government-run Sawai Man Singh and JK Lone hospitals, including three who were in critical condition.
Chaturvedi said it seemed, as of now, that the deaths occurred due to some bacterial infection.
"The cause of bacterial infection has to be ascertained... why it happened and how it happened?"
He quoted doctors at the JK Lone Hospital as saying that the bacterial infection seemed to have been caused by either food or water.
"Samples of drinking water have been collected and sent for testing. We are awaiting the report," the minister said.
Meanwhile, Congress state unit president Sachin Pilot demanded an inquiry into the matter.
He said a police complaint of criminal neglect be lodged against those responsible for the deaths.
He said it was a case of "failure of the government machinery".
