As many as 30 people were admitted to hospital and more than 100 people fell ill after taking prasadam at Chowdeshwari temple at Lakkasandra near Dairy Circle on the occasion of Navaratri festival.
They had taken the prasadam on Saturday night, and fell sick on Sunday morning.
Those who have fallen sick have been admitted to Sri Venkateshwara Speciality Hospital on Bannerghatta Road, Agadi Hospital in Wilson Garden and St John’s Hospital. Venkateshwara Hospital authorities said the patients were complaining of severe stomach pain and vomiting. “People are still pouring in complaining of the same symptoms,” they said.
Chowdeshwari temple authorities had distributed loba curry, bisibele bath and sweet pongal on the occasion of Navaratri. Hundreds of locals in Audugodi near Mico Layout customarily visit the temple on the eve of the festival. Krithika, a third year BBM student and one of the victims, has been admitted to a hospital along with her mother Shashikala (43) and brother Aditya (22). “I and my brother had only eaten loba curry. My mother had eaten all the three dishes given as prasadam. I think it is the loba curry which caused the sickness,” she said.
“We were fine till Sunday morning. My brother Aditya started vomiting by 1 pm and then my mother fell sick; by evening I had fever and started vomiting. Fever and uneasiness are still there,” she said.
She said her family had been visiting the temple for the last four years, and such an incident had never happened in the past.
Vivek Kumar, who is taking care of his 11-year-old daughter Jayasri in Venkateshwara Speciality Hospital, said that many people from the temple management have also been admitted to the hospital. Hence foul play was ruled out, according to him. “My daughter started vomiting, developed a fever and loose motion at 2 am,” he said.
Audugodi police said they are yet to get a complaint in this regard. However, policemen have been sent to the temple and the hospital to get details on the incident. According to sources, BBMP Health Department officials had dismissed the incident, and no one from the BBMP visited to enquire about it.
Sources in the Police Department said there was an internal power struggle among the members of the temple management. “This could be the handiwork of one of those disgruntled members in the management, and there is a chance of a deliberate attempt to influence local people,” the police said.
However, the locals explained that the food was prepared in an unhygienic condition which led to the food poisoning.