A festive gathering for Maha Shivratri in Jharkhand’s Palamu district took a grim turn as 20 children from Raghuakhar village suffered acute food poisoning after eating golgappas. The fair in Dwarika panchayat, Panki block, saw enthusiastic participation from local communities, yet poor hygiene in street food triggered vomiting, loose stools, and dehydration among the victims.
The crisis began Sunday evening, peaking Monday as more kids showed distress. Local residents wasted no time, notifying the Panki health center. A dedicated team arrived swiftly, transporting patients for urgent treatment where they are recovering steadily.
One father, Dhruv Kumar Gupta, described his son’s sudden deterioration after the fair treat. Health screenings covered nearly 100 children, isolating the 20 affected. Dr. Mahendra Prasad and Civil Surgeon Dr. Anil Kumar Srivastava assured the public of managed risks and ongoing vigilance.
Enhanced monitoring now blankets the village, with appeals for meticulous cleanliness and wariness at public eateries. Political and civic figures, including MLA representative Prakash Mehta, Sunil Gupta, and Roshan Singh, reviewed the response at the center.
As investigations continue, this incident serves as a stark reminder for robust food safety measures during high-attendance events, potentially spurring policy reviews on vendor regulations in Jharkhand.