'Prasad' poisoning: Toll rises to 11, police probe suspected foul play
Bengaluru, Dec 15: Police are probing suspected foul play in the death of 11 people due to food poisoning after consuming 'prasad' at a temple in Chamarajanagar district, a senior official said Saturday.
Two more people died Saturday, pushing up the toll to 11, while 93 others were hospitalised, Chamarajanagar district Superintendent of Police Dharmender Singh Meena told PTI.
Three cooks, who are undergoing treatment in a hospital, are stated to be in a critical condition, he said.
The police are investigating suspected foul play, Meena said, amid reports that a running feud between two factions in Kicchgutti Maramma temple over some issue might have led to the tragedy after the victims consumed the 'prasad' allegedly blended with poisonous substance.
As many as five people have been detained and police are interrogating them to get some leads into the incident, Meena said.
Food samples collected from the temple have been sent to a forensic lab in Mysuru.
"We have not yet received the FSL report. We are expecting it by tomorrow noon. Nevertheless, we have been investigating the tragic incident from all angles," the officer said.
"The substance in the food can only be told after receiving FSL reports," he said.
However, District Health Officer Prasad had suspected that the prasad was poisoned.
On Friday, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy had announced assistance of Rs five lakh to the next to the kin of the deceased.
Kumaraswamy flew to Chamarajanagar by special plane from Belagavi, where he is attending the winter session of the state legislature.
He had directed local authorities to make all arrangements for those who took ill and said the government would bear the medical expenses.
The foundation laying ceremony of Maramma temple was organised Friday morning at the village situated along the border of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
'Om Shakti' devotees from adjoining villages in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu had gathered for the event, where rice "baath" was served as 'prasad' after the rituals.
After consuming the offering, people started to vomit and complained of stomach pain.
Commotion had prevailed as people hurried to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The affected people said there was a smell of kerosene oil in the prasad, but they ignored it.
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13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
