Daijiworld Media Newtork - Mysuru

Mysuru, Dec 14: In a shocking incident, ten people died and 80 have fallen ill after consuming veg pulav served at a temple on Friday.

The devotees had taken part in the groundbreaking ceremony of the Gopura construction at Sulvadi Kichchugutti Maramma temple in Hanur taluk in Chamarajanagar district. After the puja they were served pulav. Soon after, some devotees started vomiting while others fell unconscious.

According to Hanur police, the devotees were rushed to various hospitals in Kamagere, Kollegal and Mysuru. While 80 are reportedly ill, condition of 10 is critical. Around 60 crows who had eaten the pulav were found dead.

Sulvadi Kichchugutti Maramma temple

The deceased have been identified as Gopamma (35), Anitha (12), Shanta (20) and Papanna (50), while others are yet to be identified. Five died in a hospital in Kollegal while two others died in a Mysuru hospital.

One of the devotees said that the food smelt like kerosene. People who consumed the food were frothing from their mouth and vomiting. Many others, who were waiting for food, did not consume it after seeing the people’s condition and their lives were saved.

Meanwhile a district official said that it is suspected that toxic substance has been mixed in the food and samples have been sent to the lab for testing.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy who has expressed his shock has assured assistance to all those who have fallen ill.

Chamarajanagara DC BB Cauvery, SP Dharmendra Kumar Meena have visited the patients in the hospital. Hanur police are probing the incident. Two people are detained in connection with the case.