New Delhi: Police say they have arrested three people after at least 11 died of suspected food poisoning following a ceremony to celebrate the construction of a new Hindu temple in southern India. Meanwhile, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President Dinesh Gundu Rao has announced Rs100,000 in compensation to be given to the kin of the victims in Chamarajanagar temple tragedy.
Police officer Musharraf says that more than 130 sick people are recovering from poisoning in various hospitals in Chamarajnagar district of Karnataka state.
Musharraf, who uses one name, said Saturday that Hindu devotees ate contaminated cooked vegetables and rice on Friday. They immediately started vomiting, complained of severe stomach pain and were taken to nearby hospitals.
Musharraf said eight of those hospitalized were in critical condition.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President Dinesh Gundu Rao has announced Rs100,000 in compensation to be given to the kin of the victims in Chamarajanagar temple tragedy.
"11 people have died so far and 93 others are hospitalised. Out of them, 29 are on ventilator support," K. H. Prasad, the health officer for Chamraj Nagar district where the temple is located, had said earlier .
"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.
Foul smell
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."
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.
