9 tribals die due to contaminated food

Raipur, Oct 11(UNI) At least 9 tribals staying at a government relief camp in naxal-hit Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh died due to consumption of contaminated food and not due to gastro-enteritits, Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh said.

The Chief Minister's clarification came in the wake of media reports about outbreak of gastro-enteritis at the relief camp at Injram and death of at least 9 tribals in the absence of adequate health-care.

''The tribals died due to contaminated food and not due to gastro'', he told reporters here yesterday.

Dr Singh said he had directed the Collector and Health officials to arrange medicines and to disinfect all relief camps.

At least 50,000 tribals caught in the hostilities between police and naxalites had been given shelter in many relief camps opened in Dantewara district, where anti-naxal campaign 'Salwa Judum' had been launched in June last year.

UNI AS-SP 1512