Mysuru: “Within half an hour of the reporting of the temple prasadam poisoning incident, we managed to get 23 ambulances including 6 ventilator fitted ones and 30 doctors including 10 from private hospitals and health centres to the spot, said Dr. K H Prasad, District Health and Family Welfare Officer, Chamarajanagar district.
“It may be between 10 AM and 11 AM that the devotees consumed prasadam. After coming to know about the devotees’ uneasiness, our doctor who is just 1 km away from the temple brought it to our notice and within 15 minutes we were on the spot. As this was a poisoning case, we did’t want any delay in the treatment and hospitalisation of the patients. After stabilising the condition of all the patients in Kollegal hospitals, we managed to shift all of them to various hospitals in Mysuru. With the help from Mysuru and Mandya district administrations, we managed to get more ambulances fitted with ventilator to shift all the patients to Mysuru for further treatment. To keep tab on all the 8 hospitals where nearly 93 patients are undergoing treatment, I have also deputed a doctor in each hospital who for every half an hour will be updating us about the progress and various other developments.
Large quantity toxin is used
“Since the devotees started suffering within an hour after consumption of food, it is understood that the toxin has been used in large quantity. We have collected food samples and sent them to the food laboratory. As the toxin is mixed with food it may take two to three days to get the result”, added Dr. Prasad.
The total number of devotees affected is 104 of whom 11 died and 93 are undergoing treatment in eight different hospitals of whom 30 are in K R hospital, 16 in JSS Hospital, 13 in Apollo Hospital, 11 in Suyog Hospital, 6 in Gopala Gowda Hospital and 5 in Columbia Asia Hospital. Of the 93 who are undergoing treatment in various hospitals, 29 are under ventilator. It may be recalled that staff from Columbia Asia Hospital had helped the doctors at K R hospital on Friday.
