Around 150 people, including 107 police personnel, deployed at
Velankanni here to ensure proper functioning of the ongoing annual
festival at the Shrine Basilica here have fallen sick after consuming
‘Pongal’ served by the church canteen here as dinner.
The affected people who were hospitalised included public health workers, church employees, besides 107 police personnel. They complained of nausea and dysentery during the wee hours of Sunday. Hospital sources said their condition was stable and there were no serious complications.
In the preliminary investigation, it was revealed that water contamination was the prime reason for the illness as contaminated water containing excess of chlorine was used to prepare ‘Pongal’, served as dinner.
According to sources, on Friday night, the officials involved in the security arrangements including the district police personnel, reserve police force, fire safety personnel, public health workers and church employees were served dinner prepared by the church canteen at the Velankanni Arockiya Madha school.
During the wee hours of Sunday, the security personnel developed stomach-related complications including nausea and dysentery.
Hundreds of workers involved in the security activities of the annual festival were admitted to various hospitals including the Nagapattinam government hospital, Keelaiyur primary health centre, Velankanni church hospital and special health camps established at Velankanni for the annual festival.
Food safety division sources said, “Water utilised for cooking purposes might have had excessive chlorine content in them. The excessive chlorine content will trigger a burning sensation in the stomach followed by complications including nausea and dysentery.”
It is said stool tests would be performed on the hospitalised personnel to ascertain the cause for the illness. Sources said water for the ongoing festival has been brought from 18 locations across the district.
Speaking to Express, Superintendent of Police Sibi Chakravarthy said, “A total of 87 police personnel, 7 reserve police force, 10 fire safety personnel and 3 Tamil Nadu Special police force were hospitalised after they complained of vomiting and stomach ailments. Most of them were discharged before Sunday evening.”
Fisheries Minister K A Jayapal and collector T Munusamy visited the officials at the hospitals on Sunday and instructed the hospital staff to provide treatment for swift recovery.
The affected people who were hospitalised included public health workers, church employees, besides 107 police personnel. They complained of nausea and dysentery during the wee hours of Sunday. Hospital sources said their condition was stable and there were no serious complications.
In the preliminary investigation, it was revealed that water contamination was the prime reason for the illness as contaminated water containing excess of chlorine was used to prepare ‘Pongal’, served as dinner.
According to sources, on Friday night, the officials involved in the security arrangements including the district police personnel, reserve police force, fire safety personnel, public health workers and church employees were served dinner prepared by the church canteen at the Velankanni Arockiya Madha school.
During the wee hours of Sunday, the security personnel developed stomach-related complications including nausea and dysentery.
Hundreds of workers involved in the security activities of the annual festival were admitted to various hospitals including the Nagapattinam government hospital, Keelaiyur primary health centre, Velankanni church hospital and special health camps established at Velankanni for the annual festival.
Food safety division sources said, “Water utilised for cooking purposes might have had excessive chlorine content in them. The excessive chlorine content will trigger a burning sensation in the stomach followed by complications including nausea and dysentery.”
It is said stool tests would be performed on the hospitalised personnel to ascertain the cause for the illness. Sources said water for the ongoing festival has been brought from 18 locations across the district.
Speaking to Express, Superintendent of Police Sibi Chakravarthy said, “A total of 87 police personnel, 7 reserve police force, 10 fire safety personnel and 3 Tamil Nadu Special police force were hospitalised after they complained of vomiting and stomach ailments. Most of them were discharged before Sunday evening.”
Fisheries Minister K A Jayapal and collector T Munusamy visited the officials at the hospitals on Sunday and instructed the hospital staff to provide treatment for swift recovery.
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