“We intervened immediately and even the (state) government ordered an inquiry. The Central Government will provide all necessary assistance for the inquiry,” the Health Minister said.

Meanwhile, reports saidtablets linked to the deaths contalined a chemical used in rat poison. Preliminary tests of the antibiotic ciprocin tablets were found to contain zinc phosphide, Bilaspur’s Chief Administrator Siddhartha Pardeshi said. The antibiotics were handed out at the mass sterilisation held a week ago in Chhattisgarh.

Pardeshi said authorities had tested the tablets after being informed that zinc phosphide was found at the nearby factory of Mahawar Pharmaceuticals, a firm at the centre of investigations.

He said samples had been sent to laboratories in Delhi and Kolkata to verify that the tablets were contaminated as the preliminary report suggested.

The minister said he would soon prepare an action plan enlisting his priorities about the Health Department.

(With agency inputs)