NEW DELHI, Dec 15, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Eleven people have died after eating
rice that had likely been contaminated with a toxic substance at a Hindu
temple ceremony, a health official said Saturday.
Another 29 people were critically ill and undergoing emergency treatment
across various hospitals in Mysore, a city in the state of Karnataka.
“11 people have died so far and 93 others are hospitalised. Out of them, 29
are on ventilator support,” said K. H. Prasad, the health officer for Chamraj
Nagar district where the temple is located.
“It is likely that some toxic substance got mixed with the rice. The
samples have been sent for forensic testing,” Prasad told AFP.
The patients were being treated for vomiting, diarrhoea and respiratory
distress, Prasad added.
According to the police, devotees had gathered in large numbers at the
Kicchukatti Maramma temple for the consecration ceremony on Friday, after
which rice was served as a sanctified offering.
Murugappa, a devotee who was present at the temple, said they were offered
tomato rice and flavoured water.
“A foul smell was emanating from the food, but those at the head of the
queue consumed the food nonetheless,” he was quoted as saying by the NDTV
news network.
“A little while later they started vomiting and frothing at the mouth.”
State Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy expressed grief over the incident and
announced a compensation of 500,000 rupees (around $7,000) each to the
families of the victims.
India’s religious festivals are often badly managed with police and
volunteer stewards overwhelmed by the sheer size of the crowds.
A stampede in eastern West Bengal state last year killed six women and 24
people died in a similar incident in Uttar Pradesh state in 2016.