Hanur, Dec 15: The condition of many people who fell sick after consuming poisonous food at Kichkuth Maramma temple at Sulvadi village in the taluk on Friday, is still critical. Total 11 persons died in the incident.

The incident happened after consuming the ‘Prasad’ distributed during the foundation laying programme for the pinannacle of the temple. Total 94 persons were treated at Kollegala hospital so far. Those who were in critical condition were shifted to Mysuru hospital. Currently there are no patients in Kollegala and Kamagere hospitals and all of them were shifted to Mysuru, said a doctor.

District Minister CH Puttaranga Shetty, MP Druvanarayan, MLA R Narendra visited the spot today morning. The district Minister met the patients and the family members of the dead in hospital and consoled them.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister Puttaranga Shetty and MLA R Narendra said that those who are in critical condition were being treated in various hospitals in Mysuru. A high level investigation would be conducted into the incident for which they have already discussed with the Home Minister, they said.

The Minister, MP and MLA have promised of helping the affected families. Among those who consumed ‘Prasad’, two were identified from Tamil Nadu and are being treated in hospital. Shivanna (50) and Puttamadevi (50) from Baraguru village in Tamil Nadu. In the beginning they were treated at Erode hospital. But now they were shifted to a hospital in Mysuru.

 

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Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Wednesday said the government has sanctioned procurement of 1,000 government buses in the next year’s budget.

According to him, in the current fiscal, 2,000 buses were sanctioned and many of them have already arrived.

Speaking in the Legislative Council, he alleged that the previous BJP government neither bought a single bus nor recruitment was done in the state transport department.

He was replying to BJP MLC Y M Satish’s request for buses for Ballari and Vijayanagara districts.

“From 2019 to 2023, not a single bus was purchased in the four corporations. Not even one bus. If buses are not purchased continuously for four years, what will happen to the organisation?” Reddy asked.

He recalled that the last time buses were procured and recruitments took place were in 2016, when he was the transport minister during the previous Congress government from 2013 to 2018.

“After we came to power (from 2013), we procured 6,080 new buses. Then last year, 2,000 buses were provided, and many of them have already arrived. This year too, 1,000 buses have been sanctioned in the budget,” Reddy told the House.

He noted that 9,000 people were recruited and 1,300 people were appointed on compassionate grounds during the Congress tenure.

The Minister added that around 2,000 to 2,500 buses have been refurbished.

“In total, 6,080 buses came in two years. Last year’s 2,000 buses, and now 1,000 more. Altogether, we have about 26,000 buses. Out of these, nearly one-third have been added in the last two-and-a-half years,” Reddy said.

Satish told the Minister that at least 100 red buses and about 20 Volvo buses are required for Ballari and Vijayanagara districts.

In response, Reddy said in 2022-23, 720 buses were given, and in 2024–25, 307 buses; in 2026, 140 buses—totalling 1,173 new buses were given to Kalyana Karnataka region.

There are around 4,000-odd buses in Kalyana Karnataka region, he said adding that another 400 buses have been tendered and funds have to be released.

“Additionally, 56 high-end buses—sleeper AC, non-sleeper AC, and Volvo buses—are also coming. Now, 400 buses are coming. Priority will be given to Ballari and Vijayanagara districts,” Reddy said.