JOWAI/SHILLONG: Six people who were undergoing treatment after consuming wild mushrooms in West Jaintia Hills were discharged from the hospital on request on Monday.
Two people have lost their lives while 16 members of three households fell ill after eating poisonous mushrooms in Lamin village under the Amlarem Sub Division in West Jaintia Hills on Sunday.
District Medical and Health Officer, Dr K Ajar informed that some of them were referred to Ialong Civil Hospital while two were referred to Norman Tunnel Hospital and later one from there was referred to Shillong. It was also informed that one person undergoing treatment in Nongtalang CHC left without any advice.
It is said that the two deceased, Morrison Dhar (40) and Katdilia Khonglah (27) had gone out to gather mushrooms and left them out to dry. They had later cooked and ate the mushrooms and then started complaining of severe dysentery and nausea.
Apparently, the mushrooms were distributed among three households, the members of which have all taken seriously ill.
According to the headman, Golden Gashnga, the 8 victims referred to Jowai Hospital have been recovered but they are still weak to be discharged from the hospital.
The seven-year old boy, who was the son of Morrison Dhar, was shifted to Shillong as he was in critical condition. Morrison’s body was buried on Monday at the village cemetery while the funeral of Khonglah will be held on Tuesday.
According to the headman, all the victims belong to three families of Dhar, Khonglah and Hermon Gashnga (52) who is a brother-in law of Dhar who died in the incident.
Dhar had gone to collect wild mushroom on Wednesday and he fell sick on the following day. He was rushed to Ialong Civil Hospital but was pronounced dead.
Khonglah had collected mushroom on Thursday and died on Friday on the way to hospital in Shillong.
