Assam: 13 Children Fall Ill After Eating Soapberries
At least 13 children fell ill after consuming soapberries while playing in a tea garden; three are in critical condition at Jorhat Medical College & Hospital.
JORHAT- At least 13 children were hospitalised after falling ill from consuming soapberries — also locally known as washnuts — in Assam’s Jorhat district, officials said on Sunday.
The incident occurred on Saturday evening at Bor Soycotte Tea Estate in the Titabar area, where the minors reportedly ingested the soapberries while playing, according to a senior health department official. Parents noticed their children’s deteriorating condition later that night and took them first to the tea garden’s hospital.
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As their condition worsened, all 13 children were transferred on Sunday morning to Jorhat Medical College and Hospital (JMCH) for advanced care, hospital authorities said.
Doctors treating the children said they are under close observation. JMCH Superintendent Manab Gohain stated that three of the children are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in critical condition, while the remaining 10 are stable and out of danger. Efforts are ongoing to stabilise the critically ill children, and medical teams continue to monitor all patients closely.
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Soapberries, a natural fruit sometimes found in tea garden areas, contain saponin compounds that can be toxic if ingested in significant quantities. The local health department has not yet confirmed whether the symptoms reported by the children were directly linked to saponin ingestion, and further medical assessments are underway.
Officials have appealed to residents in and around tea garden areas to ensure young children do not consume wild fruits or berries whose effects on health may be harmful. The district administration and health authorities are also reviewing the incident to prevent similar occurrences in future.
