Bardhaman Dot Com News Bureau 
Burdwan, 19 Sep 04:
Over 60 villagers of the Dakshin Damodar (southern Damodar area) were admitted at the Burdwan Medical College & Hospital this morning when they were victimised to food poisoning. 42 villagers from Raina block & 24 from the Khandagosh area were brought to the hospital in two trucks by the villagers. Hospital sources informed that, condition of around 12 patients are critical. The intake of prasad of Mansa puja have resulted in mass food poisoning at these areas.

The district health department is yet to send a medical team at these villages. The director of health services, Pravakar Chatterjee, CMOH & other health officials were away to Durgapur & their absence resulted in lack of proper monitoring of the incidence. The patients, admitted at the BMCH are been treated for diaorreah. The deputy super of the hospital, M. Murshed informed that their treatment is facing a setback due to lack of much needed metronidazole tablets. "In spite of all oddities, we are trying our level best to combat the situation" informed the deputy super. The hospital sources have informed that all of the patients consumed overnight foods as a part of a ritual.

Biswanath Pal, a villager of Kukura village at Raina block informed bardhaman.com, "Everyone of our family have been sick after consuming the prasad yesterday night. Vomiting & loose motion worsened the situation & we rushed them to the hospital. We couldn't figure out how this happened. Although this ritual is practiced for years, such situation never happened."

The Dakshin Damodar area is known to be homeland of Uday Sarkar, the sabhadhipati of Burdwan Zilla Parishad. He informed, "Villagers of Kukura & Narugram area of Raina - I block have been hospitalised after food poisoning." He confirmed, "the villagers felt sick after consuming prasad of Manasa puja & this is not an epidemic."