A total of 107 devotees were hospitalised after consuming food served as part of the ‘anna dhana’ (food charity) at a temple in Virudhunagar district in Tamil Nadu.
The incident occurred at the Karuppannasamy temple in Kalvimadai village in Virudhunagar district. The mass feeding was organised as part of the temple’s ‘Kumbabhishekam’ festival from June 6.
Devotees began falling ill soon after eating food served at the temple. Many reported stomach pain and vomiting, with some losing consciousness. They were first taken to nearby Primary Health Centres and then transferred to the District Government Hospital for further treatment.
By Monday evening, 107 patients were admitted to Rajaji Government Hospital in Madurai district, including 41 men, 55 women, and 11 children. Dr Saravanan, leading the medical team, said all patients received antibiotics and treatment for vomiting and diarrhoea, along with hydration through glucose drips.
“Patients were monitored round the clock. Seven among them were moved to a separate facility as a precaution, but all are stable and responding well to treatment,” Dr Saravanan stated. He added that all patients are expected to be discharged after two days of observation.
Health officials suspect contamination in either the food or water served during the event. The Virudhunagar Health Department has collected samples, and test results are awaited to confirm the source of contamination.
In a similar incident on April 23, fifteen students in a government school in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu felt sick after eating a mid-day meal. A medical team treated them on-site and noted food poisoning symptoms. The children were admitted to a nearby hospital, and were given necessary treatments.
Written by Sneha A Suneeth