Bengaluru Woman Dies After Eating Prasad At Temple; 135 People Sick

A woman died and 135 other people were hospitalised for suspected food poisoning after consuming the prasad (offering) at a temple in Bengaluru. Police said that an investigation for the exact cause of the incident is still underway, but they suspect that the temple in Hoskote, Bengaluru Rural district, offered unsanitary prasad, leaving the devotees severely ill. All the patients were hospitalised after complaining of dysentery and vomiting since going to the temple on Saturday.

The deceased, Siddagangamma, had the same symptoms and was admitted on Sunday afternoon. Some of the patients recovered and were discharged, but the 65-year-old succumbed on Monday morning, police said. The health department has been involved in the investigation.

Unsanitary Temple Prasad Causes Death

Siddaganganmma, a resident of Kaveri Nagar in Hoskote had visited the temple on Saturday and complained of an upset stomach soon after coming back home. When the symptoms got worse the next day, she was admitted to a nearby hospital in the ICU and died after a day.

The police said that several other devotees from the temple have been hospitalised in different hospitals for the same reason. While initial reports stated that consuming the prasad caused the illness, there are still some plotholes that the police are investigating.

"Patients suspect that the prasad they ate at the temple on Saturday must have led to alleged food poisoning. But there were also others who did not eat the prasad and yet developed dysentery and vomiting. So it needs to be verified," an unnamed senior police official told the media.

The officer said, "We had received information that about 70 people have been admitted to different hospitals. Later, we got to know that 65 more people were admitted. The health department has identified five hospitals in which maximum patients have been admitted. Looking at the situation, in one of the hospitals, they have dedicated an entire floor to treat ICU patients," the police official said.

The health department officials and the police are recording statements from patients and interrogating the temple authorities. A case has been filed against the temple authorities for causing harm to health. "We have registered a case under Section 278 (Making atmosphere noxious to health) of the Indian Penal Code against unidentified persons at Hoskote police station. Our investigation is underway and will take necessary action accordingly," the senior police official added.