Chg: 1 dead, many took ill after attending post-funeral feast

A woman died and atleast 149 others, including children, took ill after eating food at a post-funeral reception in a village in Rajnandgaon district, officials said today.

However, most of the people have been discharged since July 30 while 46 still remain admitted in two hospitals. The incident occurred on July 28.

People from Pandetola village in Chhuriya development block of the district had complained of vomiting and diarrhoea on July 30 following which a health camp was set up there, an official said.

Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr Mithilesh Chaudhary said that villagers had claimed that they ate food on July 28 afterthe completion of the last rites of a villager belonging to the family of local Sarpanch.

The guests who had arrived from nearby villages to the Sarpanch's home to attend the programme were also among those who fell sick, he said.

On July 30, 89 villagers got admitted at the Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH), Rajnandgaon, and a health centre in Chhuriya, he said.

"A total of 60 villagers were admitted in the hospital on July 31 and August 1," the CMHO said.

He said 113 patients were discharged after their condition improved.

"As of today, 22 patients are availing treatment in Chhuriya hospital while 24 in Rajnandgaon hospital," he said, adding that they were doing well.

The medical team today came to know that one Duggi Bai (45), hailing from Badratola village who was among the guests who ate food, died last night due to complications, he said.

"As per the information, Duggi Bai fell ill on July 30, but she left for her village without availing medical treatment," he said.

However, exact cause of her death is not known.

The stool samples of the patients and the drinking water samples from the village have been sent for the examination to ascertain the cause of the illness, the CMHO said.

Rajanandgaon Collector Bhim Singh today visited the health camp in the village and the hospitals where patients are admitted, and issued necessary instructions, he said.