9 hospitalised, 1 dead after consuming prasada in temple

Bengaluru: A woman was killed and nine others were hospitalised in Kolar after they allegedly consumed ‘prasada’ at a local temple in Chintamani town in Chikkaballapur district on Saturday, January 26. Three persons among the nine hospitalised are in critical condition.

Kavitha (28) is the woman who lost her life while the three patients in the ICU have been identified as Gangadhar V and his children Ganavi and Charan.

The prasada in the form of Kesari bath was distributed to the devotees at the Chintamani Gangamma temple in Naarasimhapete on Friday after which the incident occurred. Apparently, Chintamani town police station received a distress call around 10 am, post which the police rushed to the spot and shifted the victims to the hospital.

Reportedly, the temple priests have informed that the Kesari Bath was brought by some of the devotees that was prepared outside and not at the temple premise. The police are questioning the priests.

Three persons have been arrested in this connection by the police. Samples of the prasada have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory.

Chikkaballapur deputy commissioner Anirudh Sravan P and superintendent of police Karthik Reddy have visited the location.

The police are trying to clear if the victims consumed the food outside and started complaining of the symptoms after reaching the temple.