It was routine for 30-year-old Raju to visit Gangamma Devi temple in Hoovinepete of Chintamani town every Friday and come back with prasada for his family at home. He did not deviate from his schedule on Friday. Little did he know, that he and his children would end up hospitalised after consuming the prasada.
Mr. Raju, his children Charini (5) and Ganavi (7), another woman named Radha (28), are battling for life in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of R.L. Jalappa Hospital and Research Centre in Kolar. While the first victim Kavita died on Saturday morning, Saraswathamma (56) succumbed late at night.
Medical Superintendent V. Lakshmaiah told The Hindu that Saraswathamma, a resident of Gadaminchenahalli of Bagepalli taluk, had come to Chintamani to visit her daughter. She was initially taken to the government-run SNR Hospital, Kolar, and later shifted to R.L. Jalappa Hospital.
All the victims reported severe diarrhoea and vomiting hours after they consumed the prasada, said Chickaballapur District Health Officer (DHO) Ravishankar.
Other victims
While three more from Kavita’s family – Narayanamma (45), Venkataramappa (36) and Shivakumar (32) – are under treatment at Deccan Hospital in Chintamani, Sudha (32) and her children Chetana (7) and Keertana (3) have been admitted to the Government General Hospital in Chintamani, the DHO said. According to an official press release, four doctors and two ambulances have been deployed at Chintamani General Hospital. “There is no need to panic as the situation is under control,” the release added.
Last month, more than 15 people lost their lives and more than 100 were hospitalised in Chamarajnagar district after they consumed prasada laced with poison at a temple. A priest of Salur Math Pattada Immadi Mahadevaswamy and three others were arrested on charges of murder and attempt to murder for reportedly poisoning the temple offering.
Food poisoning likely
Doctors treating the 12 victims, who have fallen after consuming the prasada said they suspect it to be a case of food poisoning. “It could be bacterial contamination as there is no smell of any pesticide in the vomit of those who have fallen ill,” said Chickballapur District Health Officer (DHO) Ravishankar. Attributing the bacterial contamination to unhygienic handling or preparation of food, the doctor said there was no indication prima facie that it could be poisoning of the prasada with some pesticide.
Doctors have sent blood and faecal samples to the toxicology laboratory attached to the Forensic Department in Victoria Hospital, said Dr. Ravishankar.
