A festive wedding ritual in rural Chhattisgarh morphed into a medical emergency, hospitalizing 44 individuals amid fears of widespread food contamination. Gariaband’s serene villages of Mohlai and Boirgaon became epicenters of distress after attendees of local wedding feasts succumbed to poisoning symptoms.
Two events triggered the outbreak: a Chauthiya ceremony in Kutenna for Aamdi panchayat’s Mohlai folk, and a community banquet in Dhavalpura for Darripara’s Boirgaon group. Saturday’s merriment ended with guests heading home content—until Sunday’s grim reality unfolded.
Sunup revealed a health catastrophe. Pains wracked stomachs, vomiting ensued, and diarrhea spread like wildfire. Sirens pierced the morning calm as ambulances converged on Kosmi sub-health center, now a hive of desperate activity.
With 17 severely ill from Mohlai and 27 from Boirgaon in dire straits, facilities are at breaking point. Dedicated health squads fan out across the villages, screening households for hidden victims and administering immediate care.
In this crisis, sarpanchs Atmaram Netam of Aamdi and Rajkumar Sori of Darripara lead the response, personally overseeing patient care and liaising with officials. The administration scrambles, mobilizing resources to contain the spread.
Food poisoning is the prime suspect, with wedding spreads under investigation. High heat, poor sanitation, or tainted ingredients likely conspired in this tragedy. Lab analysis of samples will clarify causes, but urgent interventions prioritize lives amid the unfolding drama.