Bhubaneswar: Over 75 people in Balasore and Boudh districts of Odisha were taken ill after consuming ‘Prasad’ during Ganesh Puja celebrations in the last 24 hours.
While 50 villagers of Masad Gaon under Harbhanga block in Boudh fell sick after consuming leftover ‘Prasad’ on Wednesday morning, 25 persons complained of nausea, loose motion and abdominal pain at Sarsatia village of Bahanaga block in Balasore the previous day.
A villager of Masad Gaon said that the Puja was organised by local youths. Several villagers, including women and children, started vomiting soon after consuming the ‘Prasad’ and were immediately rushed to Purunakatak Community Health Centre (CHC). At least nine women and 12 children were later shifted to Boudh district headquarters hospital as their condition deteriorated, sources said.
In Balasore, those affected were admitted to Gopalpur Primary Health Centre (PHC). A five-member team of health officials visited the village on Wednesday and monitored the situation, the sources added.