Chandigarh, April 06: Two persons, including a 10-year-old child, died and over 150 people fell ill after consuming food at a religious function in a Punjab village Tuesday.
The incident happened near Jaitu town in Faridkot district.
The child, Gurjant Singh of Guruki Dhab village, died while being taken to a hospital in the afternoon and a granthi (priest) at a gurudwara in his early 40s died at the hospital late Tuesday, police said.
According to the police, it was a suspected case of food poisoning.
“A langar (community kitchen) was organised at the house of Gurmail Singh here. Immediately after eating the food Gurjant complained of severe pain in stomach. He died while he was on the way to hospital and another person, a granthi (priest) at a gurudwara, died late evening,” said a police official.
Over 150 people, including 35 children, have fallen ill. They have been taken to various nearby hospitals in Jaitu, Kotkapura and Faridkot towns for treatment.
Doctors said that the condition of five people admitted at Faridkot Medical College is serious, the official added.
The health department officials have collected samples of the food and a police investigation is on.
–IANS–