Over 800 fall ill after consuming prasad in a School

Baripada, Aug 30 (UNI) Over 800 people in five villages under Shyamakhunta block in Mayurbhanj district fell sick after consuming prasad served at a school on the eve of the Ganesh Puja.

Official sources the villagers and the school children took the ''bhog'' at the Ganesh puja celebration at Rangamatia Nodal ME School. They later became sick and admitted to the hospitals with symptoms of stomach pain and vomiting.

At least 92 people were admitted into the district headquarter government hospital at Baripada and another 41 admitted into the Primary Health Centre at Rangamatia, while the rest were discharged after first aid treatment, Additional District Medical Officer(ADMO) Niranjan Rout today said.

Some of the affected persons were also treated at the four temporary Health camps, set up by the district administration, he added.

Meanwhile, Orissa Director of Health Services Usha Patnaik visited the villages this afternoon and described the situation well under control. She said all the sick persons admitted into the hospital were returning to normal health.

Police had registered a ''criminal case'' in connection with the incident and sealed two shops in the town which had supplied the ingredients of the ''Bhog'' (Chuda and Gur) to the school.

The district authorities had sent the sample of the ''bhog'' to the Health Department laboratory for chemical examination.

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