Two minor dies, 20 falls sick due to food poisoning

Agartala: At least two children died and 20 others including five minors fell ill after consuming food in a religious festival at Mahespur village of Dharmanagar in North Tripura on Friday.
All the affected people have been shifted to Dharmanagar district hospital where two of them were stated to be critical, officials said here on Saturday.
The children after consuming the food complained of vomiting and upset stomach in the village. Two minors identified as Anjanta Tanti (8) and Sanchari Tanti (10) died at Bajendranagar Primary Health Centre. The death of two children triggered panic among the villagers. Immediately, all the sick people have been shifted to district hospital because of poor infrastructure and inadequate number of doctors in the local health centre. However, Chief Medical Officer of North Tripura Dr Dilip Das claimed that a special medical team has been sent to the village with necessary medicines.
‘Initially, it was suspected that due to drinking of contaminated water, the death occurred but after investigation of the bodies and ailing people we confirmed that the death and sickness is due to food poisoning,’ Dr Das stated. Police said food sample had been sent for further testing and the organiser of the festival was interrogated where food was served.
The festival was organised following death of a cow in strangled in a house of the village and Khichudi had been distributed among the villagers. In November last, 45 people of nearby Kanchanpur sub-division of the district fell ill after consuming food in similar kind of festival. (UNI)