K’taka Temple Poisoning: Pesticide Traces Found; Cooks Critical

Fourteen people have now been reported dead after consuming prasadam from a temple in Karnataka's Chamarajanagar district, while 93 others have been hospitalised.

Police are also probing possible foul play after traces of pesticide were found in the food sample, and five men have been detained so far.

However, a curve ball was thrown at the investigators when they learnt that the three cooks who prepared the food were among those who are in critical condition.

On Saturday, 15 December, Dharmender Singh Meeena, Superintendent of police, Chamarajanagar identified three detained men as Chinnappi, Madhesha and Mahadeva. Identities of other two detainees were kept confidential. The officer said the detainees were administrators of the temple, however, didn’t disclose the charges against them.

According to the health department, 93 patients have been shifted to eight different hospitals in Mysuru city. Condition of 29 of these patients is said to be critical.

CM has announced that the Govt will bear the medical expenses of all those affected in the food poisoning incident. He also ordered the Director General of Police to investigate further & report the matter immediately.

— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) December 14, 2018

Traces of Pesticide Found

Addressing the media on Saturday, 15 December, the district in-charge minister of Charamajanagar C Puttaranagashetty said police are probing foul play. Quoting the health department officials, the minister said the symptoms shown victim suggested pesticide was mixed with the food.

The initial investigation pointed at the use of a common pesticide, organophosphate.

The samples collected from the temple have been sent to the regional forensic lab in Mysuru. The results of the forensic tests are expected on Saturday evening.

All Cooks Critical, One Loses Daughter to Food Poisoning

Hours after the incident, for the Ramapura police, the cooks at the temple were prime suspects. However, during their investigation they learnt that the three cooks were among the 29 people critical patients.

The cooks were identified as Eeranna, Puttaswamy and Lokesh.

Police also added that during the investigation they learnt that Anitha, the child who passed away on Saturday, was the daughter of one of the cooks, Puttaswamy.

The three cooks were on the payroll of the temple management and they have been cooking food at the temple for several years. On Saturday, during the stone laying for a dome at Sulvadi Kichchugutti Maramma temple, 15kg of rice were cooked by these men.

“We are still unable to find the criminal intent in the incident so far, especially since the cooks are also among critical patients. We have detained some men based on some inputs, we will get a clearer picture after the investigation,” said a Ramapura police official.

What Happened in the Temple?

The incident took place during the stone laying for the dome of Sulvadi Kichchugutti Maramma temple in Hanur taluk. After the ceremony was completed, the devotees were given rice as prasadam.  The DHOs suspect that the rice may have been poisoned. A sample has been sent to Forensic Science Laboratory in Bengaluru for checking.

“When the devotees consumed the prasadam, several of them began vomiting. The people present outside the temple called 108 and the ambulance rushed them to Kamagere Holy Cross Hospital. Death toll may increase, but we are trying to stabilise all the patients. They are spread across various private and government hospitals in Mysuru and Chamarajanagar district.”

Deputy Commissioner BB Kaveri of the district told TNM

Speaking to The Quint, Murugappa, a pilgrim who was present at the temple said, “We came to the temple and they gave us tomato rice which was smelling”.

“Some people at the front of the queue consumed the food and fell sick, many others threw the food away and were saved. Those who fell ill were vomiting and frothing at the mouth.”

Murugappa, pilgrim

2 Officers Sent to Coordinate and Supervise Activities: CM Kumaraswamy

Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has announced Rs 5 lakh as compensation to the families of the deceased and has said that the government will bear the medical expenses of all those affected.

“The principal secretary and commissioner have instructed district health officers in Mandya and Mysore to provide help to the Chamrajnagar health administration.”

HD Kumaraswamy, Karnataka CM

"The commissioner has instructed the assistant deputy commissioner (ADC) of Mysore to provide services of private ambulances. Two senior officers are on way from the state headquarters to coordinate and supervise activities," Kumaraswamy added.