One dead, over 50 ill after consuming ‘prasad’ during temple inauguration in Tripura

A 59-year-old man died, and 51 others fell ill due to suspected food poisoning after consuming prasad (holy offering) at a Shiva temple inauguration ceremony in the North Tripura district, said the police on Monday.

The deceased was identified as Shailendra Debnath, who was among the many attendees at the ceremony in one Arun Debnath’s house at the Dewanpasa gram panchayat in Dharmanagar on Thursday, July 11. After consuming the prasad, they started developing symptoms like fever, vomiting, loose motion and headache and were admitted to various hospitals.

Shailendra was admitted to a local nursing home at Sakaibari, where he died on Saturday night. The other victims of the suspected food poisoning were under treatment at the Dharmanagar district hospital, Sakaibari nursing home and Banrang hospitals.

“None from the family of the deceased has filed any complaint as of now. The food safety department is testing the packet of spices used in the prasad (khichdi). The matter is under investigation”, said North district Superintendent of Police Bhanupada Chakraborty.