Palamu (Jharkhand), Feb 18: At least 175 people, most of them children, fell ill after allegedly consuming contaminated food at a Mahashivratri fair in Dwarka village under the Panki police station limits in Jharkhand’s Palamu district, health officials said on Monday.
The incident was reported from the Raghua Khad area, where residents from Dwarka, Yadav Tola, Jamuatand and nearby villages had gathered for the religious festivities. Those affected began complaining of vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain from the night of February 15, officials said.
All 175 affected persons were admitted to the Panki Community Health Centre (CHC), where most responded to treatment and were later discharged. At present, 22 patients remain under treatment, while the condition of others has improved.
“Altogether, 175 people were admitted to the Panki Community Health Centre (CHC), but now only 22 of them are undergoing treatment. The initial symptoms indicate food poisoning. The exact cause will only be ascertained after the investigation reports come,” Palamu Civil Surgeon Dr. Anil Kumar Shrivastav said.
Health officials suspect that contaminated food served at the fair triggered the illness, though laboratory investigations are underway to determine the exact source.
“These people consumed contaminated food items at a fair organised on the occasion of Mahashivratri,” an official said, adding that most patients reported symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain.
Following the incident, the health department deployed additional medical personnel and medicines at the health centre and ensured adequate arrangements for treatment.
“I have instructed the doctors to ensure proper treatment for the patients and make sure medicines, beds, and medical staff are available as required,” Shrivastav said.
Officials said the situation is now under control, and the health department remains on alert to handle any further emergency. An investigation is underway to ascertain the source of contamination.
