5 children, 7 others fall sick after having Ram Navami prasad in Dhanbad village
DHANBAD: Over two-dozen villagers, including five children, fell ill and were admitted to the Patliputra Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) in a critical condition on Thursday evening, after consuming Ram Navmi Prasad in Kenduadih village under Baliapur block, around 22km away from the district headquarters.
According to the patients’ attendants, over 50 villagers had consumed Ram Navmi Prasad - a mixture of flour, fruits and milk - on Wednesday evening, and three hours later, most of them began throwing up. They initially got themselves checked by a local practitioner, but when the vomiting did not stop and their condition began deteriorating, the doctor referred them to PMCH on Thursday.
Altogether 10 patients were admitted at PMCH, while others are under treatment in different private nursing homes of the coal city. PMCH superintendent Dr Kameswer Biswas said that the condition of the patients was stable and they are out of danger. However, the superintendent said that symptoms of the patients suggested gastroenteritis and not food poisoning.
Dr Biswas said that a team of doctors have been deployed to monitor the condition of the patients.
However, the patients’ attendants said that even after 20 hours, no doctor from the health department reached the village to have a look at the patients.