200 people fall ill after consuming 'prasad' at religious event in Maharashtra; condition stable

Around 200 villagers complained of nausea and vomiting after consuming prasad during the function. While 142 of them were admitted to the rural hospital at Bibi, 20 others in Lonar and 35 patients to a facility in Mehkar.

Mumbai: Over 200 people were taken ill after they reportedly consumed prasada at a religious event in Somthana village in Lonar tehsil of Buldhana district of Maharashtra on Tuesday evening.

All of them are out of danger, reports arriving from Buldhana said on Wednesday.

Local reports suggest over 500 people were taken ill, however, there was no official confirmation regarding the same.

The incident was reported during the 'Harinam Saptah,' a week-long religious event at the Somthana.

District Collector Kiran Patil said around 200 villagers complained of nausea and vomiting after consuming prasada during the function. “...142 of them were admitted to the rural hospital at Bibi, 20 others in Lonar and 35 patients to a facility in Mehkar,” he said.

The viral videos showed people affected lying outside the hospital due to reported bed shortages. Saline bottles were seen hanging from ropes attached to nearby trees.

District health authorities said the inconvenience caused to patients was because of the sudden inflow.

Samples of prasada have been sent to a lab for analysis and an inquiry will be initiated, officials said.