Kolkata, 22 October (H.S.) :

More than a hundred people, including several children, fell severely ill after consuming street-side golgappas (panipuri) during the Durga Puja festivities in Kolaghat, located in the Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal. At least ten individuals have been admitted to the hospital for urgent medical attention. According to hospital sources, the condition of one child turned critical, prompting an immediate transfer to the Tamluk District Hospital for advanced treatment. Following the outbreak of suspected food poisoning, local police detained two vendors for questioning.

The incident was reported from the Sagarbari Gram Panchayat area under the Kolaghat block. Narayan Chandra Nayak, a local community leader, stated that nearly a hundred residents across Padampur, Deulbari, Renubari, and Bardabari villages started exhibiting symptoms of severe food poisoning after consuming golgappas sold by Santosh Manna, a resident of Dakshin Sagarbari village, starting October 18. At least ten patients were rushed to the local Panskura Super Specialty Hospital, while several others showing milder symptoms are currently undergoing saline drip treatments and medical care at their homes.

The Kolaghat Block Hospital and Public Health Protection Committee has strongly urged the administration to arrange comprehensive medical relief for the affected villagers and demanded that dedicated medical teams under government supervision be dispatched to collect and test food samples. Taking prompt cognizance of the situation on Wednesday, District Magistrate Niranjan Kumar directed the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) to expedite laboratory testing of the golgappa samples to identify the contaminants, while Superintendent of Police Anshuman Saha ordered a thorough police investigation into the matter.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh