Malavalli food poisoning case: Death toll goes up to two

Representatives deputed by the Meghalaya government, accompanied by Mandya Deputy Commissioner Kumar (right), enquiring about the health conditions of students from the northeastern State who were undergoing treatment for food poisoning at Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS) hospital.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The death toll in the food poisoning case in Malavalli taluk has gone up to two with the death of another 13-year-old student from Meghalaya on Monday night.

The 13-year-old Nyamo Banti was undergoing treatment for food poisoning at Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS) hospital but was shifted to a private hospital in Mysuru on Monday after his condition became critical.

Another student, Khongtani, 13, also from Meghalaya, died on Sunday.

The two deceased were among 41 students of a private educational institution in T. Kagepura in Malavalli, who had taken ill after consuming food that had been prepared for a Holi feast on Friday.

Deputy Commissioner of Mandya Kumar said that as many as 22 students out of the 41 students of the hostel were from Meghalaya, and he confirmed the death of the second student from Meghalaya.

Meanwhile, the Meghalaya government had deputed two officials to visit the State and submit a detailed report on the death of its students from food poisoning. The officials, who were in Mandya on Tuesday, visited the MIMS, where the students were undergoing treatment.

The students of the hostel had consumed the contaminated food served to them on Friday after it was prepared for a Holi feast in the village for the members of a Rajasthani business community.

Apart from the hostel students, about 60 persons belonging to the Rajasthani community too had taken ill due to food poisoning. The affected persons, who underwent treatment at government and private hospitals in Mandya and Mysuru, had complained of vomiting and diarrhea.

While the State government had announced compensation to the deceased, arrangements were under way to send the bodies to their natives.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kumar said an FIR had been registered in connection with the incident of food poisoning, and the police had already arrested three persons.

The arrested, include a member of the management of the hostel, the warden, and the cook.