CHAOS ruled supreme at a small village in Lonar taluka of the district as over 200 people fell ill after consuming the prasad during a religious programme. The incident took place on Tuesday night during ‘Harinam Saptah’ organised at S o m t h a n a village. The programme was held in the farm of Bhagwan Kalu Nade, located between Khaparkhed and Somthana villages. After having the prasad on Tuesday, the villagers returned home but soon most of them started experiencing symptoms like nausea, vomiting, dizziness and fainting. Patients were taken to rural hospital at Bibi in Lonar where the number of patients started rising quickly. As the Medical Superintendent was not present at the hospital at the time, a private doctor had to be called for help.

 

Since the number of patients was more and there were not enough beds in the hospital, tarpaulin was spread on a ground outside the hospital and patients were administered saline in the open with the saline bottles hung on a rope tied between two trees. District Collector Kiran Patil informed that around 200 villagers complained of nausea and vomiting after consuming prasad during the function. Bhagar and aamti had been served as prasad. While 142 people were admitted to rural hospital at Bibi, 20 others were taken to Lonar and 35 patients to a facility in Mehkar. Since the number of patients was high, help was also taken from doctors from rural hospitals as well as private doctors to handle the emergency.

 

District Civil Surgeon Dr Subhash Chavan also visited the village and took stock of the situation. A team of doctors has been deployed in Somthana with an ambulance and other necessary equipment in case a medical emergency arises, the Collector has informed. The condition of all patients is now stable and most of them were discharged on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Collector has ordered an investigation in the case by Food and Drugs Administration and police. “Samples of prasad have been taken by FDA and sent to a laboratory for testing and an inquiry will be initiated in the incident,” Patil said.