2 Dead, 9 Hospitalised After Eating Prasad at Karnataka Temple

Image of Kesari Bhat used for representational purposes.

(Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)

Two people died and nine others, including two children were hospitalised after consuming 'prasad' at a temple in Karnataka’s Chikkaballapura on the night of Friday, 25 January, ANI reported.

The incident took place at the Gangamma Temple in Chintamani about 100 km from Bengaluru.

According to PTI, two unidentified women came to the temple where a grand celebration took place on Friday night, and distributed Kesari Bhat (halwa) to the devotees. After consuming the prasad, people started complaining of stomach pain and were rushed to a private hospital in the town.

Both women have been detained, on of whom, worked as a cook in a hotel.

"The temple management is not involved as nobody had prepared any 'prasad' there. Two women had brought some prasad and were distributing it," the police told PTI.

One of the deceased has been identified as Kavita (22), who was hospitalised along with four others from her family. .

Expressing shock over the incident, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said a guideline would be formulated.

"The recurrence of such incidents warrants a guideline. In this regard, we will take necessary steps after discussing with officials," he said in a statement.

Last month, 17 people lost their lives and more than 100 were hospitalised in Chamarajnagar district of Karnataka after they consumed 'prasad' laced with poison at a temple.

A seer of Salur Math Pattada Immadi Mahadevaswamy and three others were arrested on charges of murder and attempt to murder for reportedly poisoning the temple offering.

(With inputs from ANI and PTI)