Narayanpur, Oct 24 – In a tragic incident in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district, five individuals have died within a week after allegedly consuming contaminated food at a post-funeral feast in Dunga village, officials reported on Friday.

The deceased include a two-month-old infant, along with Budhari (25), Budharam (24), Lakkhe (45), and Urmila (25). The Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) of Narayanpur, T R Kunwar, confirmed that the baby’s death has also been linked to the contaminated food.

On October 21, authorities were alerted to the fatalities resulting from the consumption of tainted food. Following directives from Collector Pratishtha Mamgai, a medical team consisting of CMHOs from Narayanpur and Bijapur districts, along with the Block Medical Officer (BMO) of Orchha, promptly visited the village to provide medical assistance to those affected.

Investigations revealed that the five victims had attended a post-funeral feast on October 14, and subsequently experienced severe symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhoea, leading to their deaths between October 14 and October 20.

A health camp was organized in the village on October 21, where 25 villagers underwent examinations. The results showed that two residents were diagnosed with malaria, while 20 were suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea, and three were identified with other health issues. Immediate treatment was administered to the affected individuals.

Additionally, a 60-year-old woman was admitted to the Bhairamgarh community health centre for further care. The health team remains stationed in the village, continuing to treat residents and advising them on the importance of consuming fresh food and drinking boiled water.