Temple tragedy: Forensic Reports confirms the presence of Insecticide in prasadam
Bengaluru: The Forensic Lab report has confirmed the presence of a pesticide in the prasadam, that was served at the Kicchu Maramma Temples in Sulwadi village of Chamarajanagar. It may be recalled that as many as 14 devotees died and scores were left critically ill after consuming the prasadam on December 14.
As per sources, monocrotophos is the insecticide that was found in the prasadam and as per IGP (Southern Range), Sharath Chandra said that the insecticide was mixed in the water that was used to cook rice.
Dr Alok Srivastava, head of the Department of Food Safety and Analytical Quality Control, CFTRI, told the press that Monocrotophos is an extremely hazardous insecticide. It can affect people through contact with the skin and it is worse when it is ingested into the body. It is a kind of organophosphate, which causes muscles in the body to stop working. The insecticide had affected the nerve fibres of the patients’ neuromuscular junction.
Several victims are being treated at the Krishna Raja Hospital in Mysuru. Superintendent of the hospital Dr Rajesh Kumar said that all the patients who were brought in showed similar symptoms. Their pupils were smaller. Their heart rate had dropped drastically, there was nausea and in those patients who were critical, they had respiratory problems as well, which led them to conclude that they were suffering from organophosphate poisoning.
Dr Rajesh Kumar said that the patients were given atropine, which is an antidote given for insecticide poisoning or organophosphate poisoning.
Meanwhile, an angle emerging to the temple tragedy is that of a possible feud between the temple trustees over the issue of revenue sharing. As per unconfirmed sources, the trustees of the temple have been at loggerheads over the issue of revenue sharing as both the factions wanted to make sure the chunk remained with it. The fight had even got ugly, some time ago with one faction going to the extent of disconnecting power supply to the temple. The angry villagers had beaten up one of the trustees two months ago.
The police have so far arrested 7 people in connection with the crime and an FIR has been registered under section 304 (culpable homicide amounting to murder) and common intention (34).
Chamarajanagar Deputy Commissioner B B Kaveri has sent a letter to the Muzrai Department stating that the government must take over the management of the temple. The district administration will issue guidelines that temples will have to follow regarding the distribution of prasadam. Hanur MLA R Narendra informed the media persons that he would urge the state government to take over the temple’s management.
