Bengaluru, Dec 17: The death toll in the food poisoning incident at a temple in Chamarajnagar district rose to 14 with three more deaths in last two days, Health Department officials said.
Meanwhile IGP (Southern Range) Sharath Chandra today said that the laboratory tests have proved that the food distributed at Kichugutti Maramma temple at Sulwadi village was mixed Monocrotophos pesticide.
Speaking to media persons here he said on Monday that 14 people have died so far after consuming the food while scores of people have been hospitalised. Further tests from other labs awaited.
He said that the investigation was led by a team of 12 officials and the investigation has revealed several issues, which cannot be revealed as of now.
Joint Director Health Department Suresh Shastry said two deaths were reported at Apollo Hospital Sunday, while one death reported on Monday.
The deceased were identified as Mageshwari, 36, and Salamma, 35, he said, adding with the two deaths, the toll rose to 13. One Sharat was critical, he said.
The official said four patients were on ventilator at Suyogh hospital and two of them were critical. He said one more person might need the assisted ventilation.
The tragedy occurred on Friday morning at Sulavadi village where special pooja was conducted at the Maramma Devi temple for groundbreaking ceremony.
Later, prasad was distributed and those who consumed it started complaining of stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhoea-like symptoms. They were rushed to hospitals in Bengaluru, Mysuru as well as neighbouring towns.
At least 100 people are still hospitalised, sources in the Health Department said.
Police are probing suspected foul play in the incident and the villagers have urged the government to take over the temple management as stories are doing rounds that factional feud within the temple management led to the prasad's poisoning.
It has also emerged that the CCTV cameras installed in the temple were defunct. Two people have been detained.
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