DEVANAHALLI: In a shocking incident, more than 200 villagers have fallen severely ill after consuming 'Anna Prasadam' (holy food offering) distributed at a temple on the occasion of the Sri Rama Navami festival. The incident took place at Bettenahalli village in Devanahalli taluk of Bengaluru Rural district.

Vomiting and Diarrhea Among Those Who Consumed the Food

Like every year, the Sri Rama Jayantotsava was celebrated with great pomp and gaiety in the village. During the celebrations, 'Anna Prasadam' was distributed to the public at the temple. However, within a few hours of consuming the food, the villagers began experiencing vomiting and diarrhea. The sudden food poisoning of hundreds of people at once has created an atmosphere of panic across the entire village.

Villagers Rush to Hospitals

As the number of sick people began to rise rapidly, more than 200 villagers were rushed to surrounding private and government hospitals. Most of them were left severely distressed due to acute stomach pain and exhaustion. Upon receiving the information, health department staff and a team of doctors rushed to the village and set up a temporary medical camp to provide first aid.

Furthermore, those who were in critical condition were immediately shifted to various hospitals in the town via ambulances for advanced treatment.

First Such Incident in the Village!

According to the locals, the Sri Rama Navami festival has been celebrated with grand fervor in Bettenahalli village for several years, followed by a mass feeding for the devotees. However, such an incident had never occurred before. This is the first time that hundreds of people have ended up in the hospital after consuming the Prasadam, leaving the villagers panicked and distraught.

Health department officials have visited the spot and have sent samples of the food items and water used for preparing the Prasadam to a laboratory for testing.