Bhopal, March 14 (IANS) Four babies died and 16 were taken ill after they were administered anti-measles shots at a government health centre in Madhya Pradesh's Damoh district, officials said Sunday. A nurse has been arrested on charges of negligence and two others suspended.

'The district vaccination programme in-charge Anupam Kulshetra and vaccine depot in-charge Saraswati Nayak have been suspended,' the official added.

The action came after Madhya Pradesh health department director A.N. Mittal reached Damoh and inquired into the matter.

Officials said after the measles shots were given Saturday, three children, aged between two to 12 months, died and 17 fell ill.

Another child succumbed Sunday, said Chief Medical and Health Officer D.K. Shrivastav.

'The negligence of the nurse, Durga Tiwari, who supplied the vaccines to the Anganwadi, has been found to be the cause behind the tragedy and she has been arrested by the police on charges of negligence and destroying evidence,' he said.

The victims were identified as Arti Thakur, Gaurav Vishvakarma, Roshni Gond and Pinki Arman Vishwakarma.

The parents of the victims said the babies started frothing at the mouth and nose, turned blue and died within 12 hours of being given the vaccine. In all, 20 children were administered the vaccine.

'While the post-mortem examination reports of the infants reveal that they died of toxic shock syndrome, a rare and unforeseen snag following measles vaccination, it seems that the protocol for the cold chain for preserving vaccines was broken,' Shrivastav told IANS.

'The nurse apparently took the vaccines home in a thermo flask, stored it in refrigerator overnight before bringing it back for distribution the next day,' he said.

The samples of the vaccines have been sealed and sent to New Delhi for examination and the vaccination programme has been suspended till the reports come in, Damoh Police Superintendent D.K. Arya said.

Damoh District Collector R.A. Aggarwal said: 'Investigations have been launched to ascertain the cause of the three children's death. Further action will be taken after the report comes in.'

Madhya Pradesh Health Minister Anup Mishra has ordered suspension of district vaccination officer Anupam Kulshreshta, LHV Vaccination Centre's S. Nayak and Durga Tiwari with immediate effect while the government has announced assistance to the tune of Rs.10,000 each to the affected families and Rs.1 lakh each for the deceased' families.

'In the preliminary investigation, district vaccination officer Anupam Kulshreshta, LHV vaccination centre's S. Nayak and ANM Durga Tiwari were found guilty prima facie and they have been suspended with immediate effect,' an official statement said.

Madhya Pradsh Minister Jayant Malaiya who announced a financial assistance of Rs.10,000 each after visiting the victims and meeting their family members also assured of action against the guilty.