As many as 80 villagers of GN Kandriga village of Nindra mandal were taken ill in three batches while participating in the two-day Kondachuttu festival on Thursday.
This annual event is performed by thousands of villagers of Nindra, Nagari, Puttur, Pitchatur and Nagalapuram mandals by perambulating the Nagari Nose hill in Nagari mandal, post-Sankranti festivities. As they perambulate the hill, covering over 25 km, villagers arrange distribution of prasadam at regular intervals.
The villagers of GN Kandriga were carrying the prasadam in bulk during the event, after offering the same at the local temple. The villagers who consumed the prasadam on Wednesday night showed signs of giddiness and vomiting during perambulation. About 40 devotees, including 18 women, were rushed to the government hospital on Thursday evening. While returning home, the stale food stuff was again consumed by two more batches in the morning.
All are safe: Tehsildar
Nindra Tehsildar K. Babu alerted medical and health officials. Accordingly, team of doctors from Chittoor, Puttur and Nagari rushed to GN Kandriga village and shifted another 42 villagers to hospitals in Puttur and Nagari. The Tehsildar told The Hindu that the prasadam got mixed with stale ‘sundal’ and contaminated oil. “All the villagers were now safe. Barring some women and children, all had been discharged from hospitals,” he said.
