NEW DELHI: Terming the death of more than 150 children in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur due to acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) an “extraordinary” situation requiring immediate attention, the Supreme Court on Monday sought an explanation from the Centre and the Bihar government on steps taken to control the disease. Ab ench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and B R Gavai said people have a basic right to medical care, nutrition and hygienic environment and the death of such a large number of children is unacceptable.The court said it had to be found out why such a situation is occurring and called for a response in seven days. The court asked for a response on three aspects — the availability of public medical care facilities, nutrition, and sanitation and hygiene in the areas affected by the disease.Though additional solicitor general Vikramajit Banerjee told the bench that the governments were taking all necessary steps to deal with the outbreak of the disease and claimed the situation is “absolutely under control”, the bench decided to examine the issue in the light of the outbreak becoming an annual phenomenon.The petition, filed by advocate Manohar Pratap, sought a direction to the Centre for providing all necessary medical equipment for the effective treatment of children suffering from the disease. He sought the SC’s direction to the Centre and the state government to immediately arrange 500 intensive care units with the required medical professionals to deal with the emergent situation due to the outbreak of the disease.“This year the epicentre of the disease is Muzaffarpur in Bihar where more than 126 children have lost their lives in the past one week. Media reports show that there is acute shortage of doctors, medical facilities, intensive care units and other medical equipment in the hospitals in nearby areas and children are dying in hospitals due to lack of required facilities,” the petition said.The court also sought a response from the Uttar Pradesh government as the petitioner contended similar deaths of children took place there last year. The petitioner said the deaths were a direct result of negligence and inaction on the part of the respective governments of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and the Centre’s handling of the epidemic situation which arises every year.