SAHARSA: More than 100 people, including children, fell ill after consuming food at a puja in Sardiha village of Bihar’s Saharsa district, officials said on Sunday.Many of them reported symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea and fever. Authorities said the situation is now under control and medical teams are monitoring those affected, according to news agency ANI.Medical Officer-in-Charge Ashish Kumar said patients requiring advanced care were being referred to Saharsa for treatment.“About 100 people, including children, have fallen ill after eating food at a puja in Sardiha village, Simri Bakhtiyarpur. The situation is currently under control. Those who are serious are being referred to Saharsa for treatment. Rest, everything is under control and being watched over,” Kumar said.Saharsa Civil Surgeon Raj Narayan Prasad said the affected individuals were spread across multiple households, making it difficult to determine the exact number.“More than a hundred people have been affected. As cases are spread across various households, we don’t have an exact count yet, but it’s estimated to be around a hundred people,” Prasad said.He said medical personnel had reached the village with medicines and treatment was underway.“Some people experienced issues with food, fever, and vomiting. The in-charge of our sub-division hospital came with medical staff and a full supply of medicines to treat them. The treatment is currently underway, and the situation is now under control,” the Civil Surgeon said.Prasad added that one or two children were still facing health complications and would be shifted to Sadar Hospital for further treatment.Meanwhile, Panchayat Samiti member Rahul Singh said between 150 and 200 people may have fallen ill after attending religious ceremonies and consuming prasad. He said it was yet to be established whether the illnesses were linked to the prasad or changing weather conditions.A medical team has been deployed in the village and patients are gradually recovering, Singh said.“On Thursday, people attended religious ceremonies in various locations and consumed prasad. It’s still being investigated whether the illness was caused by weather changes or the prasad. About 150 to 200 people fell ill. Thanks to the MLA’s intervention and Judge Prafull Kumar Singh from Darbhanga, who visited the village last night and called the Sadar Hospital, a medical team arrived. I was also unwell and only realized the extent of the situation this morning when the judge informed me. The MLA took swift action, ensuring everyone received proper treatment, including IV fluids. A medical team remains on-site, and patients are gradually recovering,” he said according to news agency ANI.The incident was reported from wards 8 and 9 of Sardiha village. Health officials, including the civil surgeon, have visited the area and are overseeing the response.Officials said the exact cause of the illness has not yet been determined and will be established after an investigation.
