Palamu: A suspected case of mass food poisoning left more than 100 villagers ill in Bohita village, Palamu, following a pre-wedding feast on Wednesday night. The health crisis triggered widespread panic, forcing the district administration to convert a local school into an emergency medical camp.
Feast Turns into Emergency
Harishankar Chandravanshi hosted the feast ahead of his son’s wedding, serving a traditional menu of puris, vegetables, and bundi. Within hours of the meal, guests reported severe symptoms, including:
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Persistent vomiting and diarrhoea
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Dizziness and severe stomach pain
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Sudden physical weakness
By Thursday morning, reports of illness had emerged from almost every household in the village.
Emergency Response and Hospitalization
Palamu Civil Surgeon Dr. Anil Kumar Srivastava arrived on-site with a medical team to manage the outbreak. Due to the high volume of patients, medical staff administered saline drips to victims on mats laid across the primary school’s veranda.
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Critical Cases: Authorities referred 10 residents in critical condition to Medininagar Medical College and Hospital (MMCH) and the Lesliganj Community Health Centre.
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Temporary Camp: The health department established a treatment center at Pokharpar Tola school to handle non-critical cases.
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Logistics: Four ambulances remain stationed in the village to provide rapid transport for worsening cases.
The Civil Surgeon has collected food samples for testing to confirm the exact cause of the poisoning. A medical team remains in Bohita to monitor the situation.
