70 Hospitalised with Food Poisoning in Chhattisgarh

Raipur : The condition of over 70 poor people, including 32 women and children, in Chhattisgarh is reported to be stable hours after they were hospitalised for food poisoning, a health official said Tuesday.

The patients, mainly tribals, were rushed to Dantewada district government hospital Monday when they began vomiting soon after eating at a famous Shiv temple at village Teknar on Mahashivratri. The temple is five kilometres away from district headquarters in Dantewada town and about 380 km from capital Raipur.

"About a hundred people were brought to hospital in phases till last night, they are clearly victims of food poisoning. A few of them were discharged early Tuesday, but still 70 people, mostly impoverished tribals, are still in hospital," Anand Gota, the doctor attending to patients at the district hospital, told reporters in Dantewada.

He termed the patients' condition as "stable" and said they need serious medical attention for days.

The Dantewada district authorities have appealed to residents in Teknar and nearby areas to get admitted to the district hospital instead of resorting to traditional medicines at home.

Reports say there are still dozens of people who have not visited the hospital despite eating at the temple premises Monday.