Mysure: Several netas—former chief minister Siddaramaiah, KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao, Member of Parliament R Druvanarayan, ministers and legislators—rushed to hospitals where devotees, who took ill after eating prasadam at Kichuguththi Maramma temple in Kollegal taluk of Chamarajnagar district are undergoing treatment, on Saturday.
Mr Siddaramaiah who visited patients at KR hospital said it has been confirmed that somebody deliberately mixed poison with prasadam. “It is inhuman. And it is tragic that it has been mixed with God’s prasadam. These patients need to be monitored for 48 hours. It has been directed to initiate stringent action against the culprits,” he told the media here on Saturday..
Mr R Druvanarayan visited patients at all hospitals in Mysuru and even visited Kichuguththi temple and relatives of those who died at Bidralli. He said “We demand a CID inquiry. People from the backward class belt including Bidralli, MG doddi, Sulvadi, Martalli are the ones who had visit the temple and consume prasadam ,” he added.
Prabhu, who hails from MM Hills, now undergoing treatment in emergency ward in KR Hospital, said: “We were served Chithranna (rice bath), Haalu anna (milk rice) and panchamrutha (mixture of banana and jaggery) at temple as prasadam between 10am and 11am since there was foundation laying ceremony ahead of construction of the gopura (tower) of the temple. While some of us suffered from diarrhea and vomiting we rushed to primary health care centre at PHC at Martalli which was a km away by 11.15am. Martalli PHC medical officer Dr Rajeev informed Chamarajnagar DHO and first 24 people were planned to be shifted in four ambulances to Kollegal Taluk hospital, but first death of one Annayyappa occurred at 12pm and first aid was given at Holy cross hospital in Kamagere (55kms from Martalli PHC).
From there we were further referred to Kollegal taluk hospital which was 13kms from there, and from there we were shifted to Mysuru,” he added. Ramapura Police of Chamarajnagar district have filed FIR against six people under section 304 of IPC based on complaint filed by 40 year old Rajamma from Doreswamy Medu.
Several experts visited the temple including food and safety joint commissioner Ms Nandini.
