Mysore, Dec 15 (UNI) The situation still remains grim on Saturday in Chamarajnagar district where as many as 11 people died and 80 others suffering in various hospitals, after consuming 'prasadam' at Maramma temple in Sulwadi village in Hunsur taluk in the district on Friday.
According to the district and hospitals officials, the people admitted to various hospitals across the city are yet to recover.
The officials of the district authorities, who confirmed 11 deaths, released the list of the deceased in the incident.
The deceased were identified as Papanna (70), Rachaiah(58), Shakthi Vel (40) Shantaraj (30), Gopiyamma(40), Anitha (12) Annayappa (60), Shivu (30), Krishna Nayak (40), Doddamadiah (60) and Prithan (7) all of them are from the various villages in Kollegal taluka of Chamarajanagara district.
The devotees had participated in a programme ahead of their visit to Om Shakti temple in Tamil Nadu, and took part in a few rituals, after which there was 'guddali puja' ceremony for constructing a temple tower (gopura).
The devotees were given 'rice bath' as 'prasadam' at around noon and a few of them immediately started feeling uncomfortable. Soon, almost all those who had eaten fell ill.
The government has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the family of the deceased.
Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who rushed to the city on Friday late night from Chennai visited hospitals, later said that treatment expenses of the hospitalised will be borne by the government. Mr Kumaraswamy said that he has ordered a probe into the incident. Two people have already been taken into custody for questioning in the connection with the crime, he added.
Doctors attending to the patients at K R Hospital and Cheluvamba Hospital suspect that they might have eaten 'food blended with poison used in pest control'.
Meanwhile, the Chamarajnagara district administration ordered for closure of the Kuchhugude Marama temple and seized all cooking materials.
Deputy Commissioner B B Cauvery, who visited the hospitals in the city, said samples of patients have been collected and sent for lab for testing to know the actual fact for the incident.
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