KA-POISONING

At least 5 die, 80 others ill after consuming 'prasad'

Bengaluru, Dec 14 (PTI): At least five people, including

two children, died and about 80 others took ill Friday after

consuming 'prasad' at a temple at Sulivadi village in

Chamarajnagar district, police said.

The condition of 12 people was critical and they have

been taken to Mysuru for treatment, they said.

The deceased have been identified as Gopiyamma (55),

Pappanna (50), Shantha (20), Anitha 14 and Anil (12).

District Health Officer Prasad said it was suspected that

poison might have got mixed with the 'prasad', resulting in

the tragic incident.

"We have collected the samples and sent it to a

laboratory for investigation," he told reporters.

According to police, the foundation laying ceremony of

Maramma temple was organised Thursday morning and prasad was

distributed after the function.

Most of those who attended the event followed the 'Om

Shakti' tradition.

After consuming the prasad, people started vomitting and

began writhing with stomach pain, police said.

Commotion prevailed as people hurried to nearby hospitals

for treatment.

Police rushed to the spot, as also district authorities,

to provide medical aid.

During treatment, five people breathed their last - two

ata hospital at Kamagere, two others at a hospital at

Kollegala and one athospital in Ramapura, police said.

Expressing shock over the incident, chief minister H D

Kumaraswamy said he has directed the authorities to make all

arrangements for the treatment of the affected people.

The affected people said they got the smell of kerosene

oil in the prasad, but ignored it.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)