Bhubaneswar, 24 May (H.S.): A suspected case of food poisoning has claimed four lives and left at least 17 others ill after they attended a dashaha (post-funeral ritual feast) at Nuadihi village under Hemgiri block of Odisha’s Sundargarh district.

According to sources, villagers had gathered for the funeral feast when several attendees began experiencing vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhoea shortly after consuming the food. Authorities suspect that contaminated food served during the feast may have caused the deaths and illnesses.

Among the deceased are two persons from Sundargarh district — Mangal Sai Nayak of Nuadihi village and Raibari Pradhan, a 50-year-old woman from Hemgiri. The two other deceased persons belonged to neighbouring Jharsuguda district and were identified as Ullas Khadia (40) of Sunakhain village under Atabira panchayat and Sukanti Khadia (60).

Many people reportedly fell ill in the incident. Of them, 10 have been admitted to the Hemgiri Community Health Centre for treatment, while four critically ill patients from Jharsuguda district are undergoing treatment at different hospitals.

Following the incident, a special medical team from the Health Department reached Nuadihi village and began monitoring the situation. Health officials are also keeping a close watch on other villagers to identify any additional suspected cases.

Meanwhile, food samples are expected to be collected for laboratory examination, and a joint investigation by the police and the Health Department is underway to ascertain the exact cause of the suspected food poisoning.

Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda