THE Bombay High Court on Thursday asked the state government to explain why 176 children died of malnutrition till July 2008 in Dharni and Melghat areas of Amravati district. The court has directed the Additional Principal Secretary, Health, Chandra Iyengar and Director, Health Services Prakash Doke to visit Melghat and Dharni areas to inspect the malnutrition situation there. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice A P Deshpande hearing a PIL, also asked the two officials to file a compliance report within sixweeks. The report will have to mention the steps the government has taken to curb malnutrition deaths, whether earlier decisions have been implemented or not, and if not, who is responsible. The court, while expressing dissatisfaction over the government affidavits explaining the action taken to prevent the deaths, also sought to know the number of children who died of malnutrition in the last five years. "It is the duty of the state to ensure no child dies due to malnutrition," the court said. The petitioner's lawyer alleged that over 400 deaths occurred in tribal areas since January 2008 and the worst-hit were Melghat, and Dharni in Amaravati district. According to the Maharashtra government, there have been 176 deaths till july 2008.