Three die after eating pork at Sunday service

NONGPOH: Three persons died and over 100 people were taken ill after eating pork at Nongkya village in Umsning in Ri Bhoi. Many faithful of the Church of God, who attended service on Sunday and ate pork thereafter, were admitted in Umsning CHC and Nongpoh Civil Hospital on Monday. One of the deceased children was identified as seven-year-old Welborn Nongkseh from Nongkya village. He died at Umsning CHC on Monday evening. One more person died in Umsning and another died in Shillong Civil Hospital, but their names and ages could not be ascertained. Many among the sick villagers are admitted in hospitals in Shillong, including NEIGRIHMS. Ri Bhoi District Medical and Health Officer Bareh Pohchen Lamin said more than 30 patients were admitted in the CHC and 25 were in Nongpoh CHC. Lamin said the believers were taken ill after they consumed pork on Sunday. “On receiving the information, I rushed to the spot and a medical team was deployed at Nongkya village,” he added. He said the staff at Umsning CHC and Nongpoh Civil Hospital have been instructed to give priority to the food-poisoning patients.