Bhubaneswar: The infamous mango kernel which was responsible for several deaths in tribal-dominated Kashipur block of Rayagada district is back in news. The death of two women due to mango kernel in Kandhamal district once again started hunting in the State.
Though the State Government has been taking several initiatives to provide free rice and nutritional food items to the poor people, the people, especially the tribals residing in remote areas of Rayagada and Kandhamal are still consuming mango kernel treating it as a traditional food item. This was reflected in the Kandhamal incident.
At least 20 persons in five villages of Kashipur area of Rayagada have died in 2001 while two people killed in August 2016 in the same area after consuming food items made up of mango kernel.
Now, at least two women died and six others fell seriously after allegedly consuming gruel made of mango kernel at Mandipanka village under Kandhamal district’s Daringbadi block.
According to the villagers, the people had prepared gruel from mango seeds and ate it.
While a woman died at community health center, Mohana in Gajapati district on Thursday night, another one succumbed to her illness on the way to the MKCG Medical College and Hospital here on Friday morning, said sources.
Other women who have been suffering after consuming the gruel, admitted at the medical college and hospital here and their condition stated to be critical, said Dr Subrat Das, a medical officer of the MKCG Hospital.
“All six persons have been admitted to the hospital in serious condition and their treatment is going on. We suspected it was the case of food poisoning. The exact cause of the illness will be known after investigation” he said.
The local Sarapanch said they had consumed the gruel on Wednesday. One after others started to vomit and rushed to MKCG Medical College and Hospital. When the condition of one of the women was serious, admitted at CHC Mohana on the way to Berhampur. She died during treatment, she said.
Meanwhile, expressing serious concern over the Kandhamal incident, Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling said a total of eight people were affected and first admitted to Daringbadi CHC, of which two people have died while shifting to MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur.
The exact reason behind the death can be ascertained after the post-mortem, he said.
The six other persons are under treatment at Berhampur medical college and department inquiry has been ordered, the Minister said.
Director Health Services Bijay Mohapatra said a health team has been reached at the village and conducting necessary screening and collecting data from the field. After getting their report, it can be ascertained whether the deaths were due to food poisoning or diarrhea, he added.