Food poisoning alleged after temple fete

300 hospitalised after eating meals served at temple fete

Hundreds of people, mostly women, took ill, allegedly after having free meals that were served during a temple festival, near Nedumangad here, on Thursday.

According to Food Safety authorities, around 300 people had sought treatment for food poisoning at hospitals since Wednesday night.

The meals were served to around 3,000 people on Wednesday as part of the annual festival at the Thekkeda Madan Nada Siva Bhadrakali temple, out of which around 300 were hospitalised after they complained of vomiting, diarrhoea, and body pain, Satheesh Kumar, Assistant Commissioner (Food Safety), Thiruvananthapuram, said.

Food Safety officials collected samples of food items that were available at the temple on Thursday, with the distribution of the meals prepared for the day being cancelled as well.