The boon of death
Temples, places of worship and the beliefs around it are created by man for the sanctity of his life. Many believers live on the faith that a God that protects then exists somewhere in some form. Faith in God helps millions of people get through their lives. But when this trust turns into a business, an enterprise of competition do we understand what a threat it can be for people. Owing to faith, the world is suffering on one hand and, is falling prey to superstitions on another. Though we have churches, temples and masjids dotting every area, people are growing highly intolerant of each other. Devotion is not euphoria. When it becomes something like a drug, a man's downfall begins from right there.
Sometimes, the very faith that guards him turns into a death trap. Indian politics stands in such euphoric religious beliefs. They have led us to Gujarat and Sikh massacres. Tragedies that have occurred on religious occasions aren't any different from these ones either. The incident of crackers having claimed lives of many people in Kerala is still fresh in people's minds. Just a few months ago, people who were watching Ramleela event on railway tracks met a tragic end with a train running over them. Our acceptance of stampedes at village events and fairs are considered nearly normal. Karnataka is now witnessing one man made tragedy that could have been totally avoided.
The number of deaths that are occurring owing to consumption of poison mixed prasada in Sulvadi Maramma temple of Hanur in Chamarajanagar taluk are increasing by the day. Religious institutions organise events not only in the basis of belief, but as a business proposition as well. They add a lot of money to the treasury of the temple under the pretext of such events. This being the case, should any mishaps or tragedies occur in the course of events, the organisers or temple authorities would be held responsible for everything.
It is the responsibility of the organisers to ensure all precautionary measures are in place to avoid any untoward incidents when lakhs of people are assembling for an auspicious event. The mindset that we only need the money donated by devotees but their safety isn't our responsibility is what leads to tragic events like these. Organisers have special responsibility to ensure the Prasada offered at religious events are prepared with great care, hygiene and responsibility, bearing in mind the massive number of devotees who'd be consuming it as part of the ceremony.
But the number of people who are falling ill after consuming the Prasada is increasing these days. With the size of the religious ceremonies getting bigger, the quantity of Prasada prepared at the site is also getting larger. At times like this, the aspect of hygiene takes a backseat. But in case of Chamarajanagar, the issue is albeit different. The tragedy is not owing to lack of hygiene, but because someone has mixed deadly poison into the Prasada that left people dead. A person who can mix poison into Prasada can never be a believer. He or she must surely be a criminal at heart and spirit. Many innocents fell dead over his design.
Hence the incident has to be probed in all aspects to catch the culprits without delay. There were all chances of avoiding the untoward incidents. It was the responsibility of organisers to test the Prasada before it was distributed or served to the people. If this was offered to some animals or birds, so many deaths could have been easily avoided. Or, the cook should have tasted the food before it was served. And they should have waited for an hour or later before it was taken to the devotees for consumption. That could have avoided a few deaths. The police cannot absolve the responsibility of organisers in this in any manner. At the same time, there could be a big conspiracy behind poison being mixed into the Prasada. Those who were waiting to get some plum posts or some position within the temple committee or a fight between two groups wanting to cater for the event could also be behind this mishap.
Hence this incident has to be probed from different angles. At the same time, there are instances where students fall ill after consuming mid day meals that also need to be probed for clarity. Many categories of people are not too happy with the mid day meals being served to poor students and the fact that students of all castes sit together to eat. So chances of that food being adulterated cannot be ruled out. Government needs to exercise extreme care with mid day meals being prepared and served. The area has to be monitored while being oraored and distributed. When we have minds that can add poison to Prasada, a mid day meal being contaminated can never be too far.
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MP HC sets up judicial commission to probe water contamination in Indore
Indore (PTI): The Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday set up a commission of inquiry comprising a former HC judge to probe the issue of water contamination in city's Bhagirathpura, saying the matter requires probe by an independent, credible authority and "urgent judicial scrutiny".
It also directed the commission to submit an interim report after four weeks from the date of commencement of proceedings.
A division bench of Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi constituted the commission while hearing several public interest litigations (PILs) filed simultaneously regarding the deaths of several people in Bhagirathpura due to the consumption of contaminated water.
The HC reserved the order after hearing all the parties during the day, and released it late at night.
The state government on Tuesday told the HC that the deaths of 16 people in Indore's Bhagirathpura area was possibly linked to a month-long outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The government presented an audit report of 23 deaths from the current gastroenteritis epidemic in Bhagirathpura before the bench, suggesting that 16 of these fatalities may have been linked to the outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The report, prepared by a committee of five experts from the city's Government Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, stated that the deaths of four people in Bhagirathpura were unrelated to the outbreak, while no conclusion could be reached regarding the cause of death of three other people in the area.
During the hearing, the high court sought to know from the state government the scientific basis behind its report.
The division bench also expressed surprise at the state government's use of the term "verbal autopsy" in relation to the report, sarcastically stating that it had heard the term for the first time.
The HC expressed concern over the Bhagirathpura case, stating that the situation was "alarming," and noted that cases of people falling ill due to contaminated drinking water have also been reported in Mhow, near Indore.
In its order, the HC said the serious issue concerning contamination of the drinking water supply in Bhagirathpura area allegedly resulted in widespread health hazards to residents, including children and elderly persons.
According to the petitioners and media reports, death toll is about 30 till today, but the report depicts only 16 without any basis or record, it said.
It is averred that sewage mixing, leakage in the pipeline, and failure of civic authorities to maintain potable water standards have led to the outbreak of water-borne diseases. Photographs, medical reports, and complaints submitted to the authorities prima facie indicate a matter requiring urgent judicial scrutiny, the HC said.
"Considering the gravity of the allegation and affecting the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and the need for an independent fact-finding exercise, the Court is of the opinion that the matter requires investigation by an independent, credible authority," it said.
"Accordingly, we appoint Justice Sushil Kumar Gupta, former judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, a one-man commission of inquiry into the issues relating to water contamination in Bhagirathpura, Indore, and its impact on other areas of the city," the HC added.
As per the order, the commission shall inquire into and submit a report on the cause of contamination -- whether the drinking water supplied to Bhagirathpura was contaminated; and the source and nature of contamination (sewage ingress, industrial discharge, pipeline damage etc).
The panel will also probe the number of actual deaths of affected residents on account of contaminated water; find out the nature of disease reported and adequacy of medical response and preventive measures; suggest immediate steps required to ensure safe drinking water as well as long-term infrastructural and monitoring reforms.
It will also identify and fix responsibility upon the officers and officials found prima facie responsible for the Bhagirathpura water contamination incident, and suggest guidelines for compensation to affected residents, particularly vulnerable sections.
The commission shall have powers of a civil court for the purpose of summoning officials and witnesses; calling up records from the government department, hospitals, laboratories and civic bodies; ordering water quality testing through accredited laboratories; conducting spot inspections.
All state authorities involving district administration, Indore Municipal Corporation, public health engineering department and Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board shall extend full co-operation and provide records as sought by the commission, it said.
The state government shall provide office space, staff, and logistical support to the commission, it said.
During the hearing in the day, the state government also presented a status report to the court in this matter.
According to reports, a total of 454 patients were admitted to local hospitals during the vomiting and diarrhea outbreak, of whom 441 have been discharged after treatment, and 11 are currently hospitalised.
According to officials, due to a leak in the municipal drinking water pipeline in Bhagirathpura, sewage from a toilet was also mixed in the water.
