Hundreds of people fell ill after consuming ‘prasad’ (consecrated offering) during Ram Navami celebrations in Bengaluru Rural district in Karnataka.
The incident was reported from Bettanahalli village in Devanahalli
taluk of the district, where people had gathered for the annual Ram Navami celebrations. According to officials, many villagers began experiencing symptoms in the early hours of Sunday after consuming ‘anna prasada’, the food offering distributed during the event.
It is learnt that more than 200 people were admitted to nearby private hospitals, while several others were treated at government health centres. Some patients were said to be in serious condition and were shifted to hospital by ambulance. Officials estimate that around 400 people may have been affected in total.
Further, local residents alleged that revenue and taluk officials did not immediately visit the village after the incident, claiming that only health department teams reached the area to assist the affected families.
District Health Officer Lakka Krishnareddy later visited hospitals to review the situation. He said patients began reporting symptoms such as stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and extreme fatigue around 10 pm after eating the prasada.
Health teams, including ASHA workers and Rapid Response Team (RRT) members, were deployed to the village. They were conducting door-to-door checks to identify more cases and ensure timely medical assistance.
Meanwhile, authorities have collected samples of the food served during the celebrations as well as the water used in its preparation. These samples have been sent for laboratory testing. Investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the suspected food contamination.
