Baripada: Two children died reportedly after consuming contaminated food while 11 others were admitted in a critical condition to the Mayurbhanj district headquarters hospital in Baripada Friday. The incident has left the people of Nuagaon village under Chandua police limits in a state of shock and mourning.
According to reports, a Class X student, after appearing for her annual HSC examinations, had come to the village. She had allegedly distributed bhog of Saraswati puja, which was in her house for a long time, to some children playing in the street.
Almost all of the children who had taken the bhog, felt uneasy late Friday night. Later, they began vomiting.
Nine children were rushed to the district headquarters hospital, but two of them died on the way, sources said.
The deceased were identified as Shambhu Nayak (5) and Durga Singh (6). The condition of Puspa Singh (6), Mandakini Nayak (13), Puja Singh (13), Debasmita Singh (9) and Mama Singh (8) was stated to be critical.
However, sources said their condition improved marginally Saturday.
Besides, five other children felt nauseous followed by severe bouts of vomiting Saturday. They were identified as Ajay Nayak (7), Smita Nayak (7), Diplai Singh, Asmita Singh (9) and Jina Nayak (8), and were admitted to the district headquarters hospital. Their condition is stable, said doctors treating them.
Meanwhile, Sadananda Nayak, father of deceased Shambu Nayak, lodged a complaint with Chandua police against the girl who distributed the bhog.
Police started an investigation after registering a case of murder against the girl, said IIC Dhiresh Kumar Das. PNN