More than 60 people reportedly fell sick after consuming prasad during a religious ceremony in Uttar Pradesh’s Kannauj district, officials said on Saturday. The incident created panic in the area as several devotees, including women and children, complained of vomiting, stomach pain and dizziness soon after eating the food.
According to local authorities, the religious gathering was organised at a village temple where a large number of devotees had assembled to attend rituals and prayers. After the ceremony, prasad was distributed among those present. Within a few hours, many people began showing symptoms of suspected food poisoning.
Family members and villagers rushed the affected individuals to nearby health centres and district hospitals after their condition started deteriorating. Medical teams were immediately deployed and emergency treatment was provided to the patients. Officials said most of the affected people are currently stable and under observation.
Doctors suspect that contamination in the food distributed as prasad may have caused the illness, though the exact reason will be confirmed only after laboratory testing. Samples of the food have been collected and sent for examination.
District administration officials reached the village soon after receiving information about the incident. Health department teams also conducted inspections at the site and began recording statements from organisers and villagers.
Authorities said a detailed investigation has been launched to determine whether negligence in food preparation or storage led to the incident. Officials are also trying to identify the exact ingredient or item that may have caused the suspected food poisoning.
Police said no deaths have been reported so far, but several people required hospitalisation due to dehydration and weakness. Additional medical staff were arranged at local hospitals to handle the sudden influx of patients.
The incident has raised concerns over food safety arrangements during large religious gatherings, especially in rural areas where food is often prepared in bulk under temporary arrangements. Officials assured that strict action would be taken if any lapses are found during the investigation.
