During a religious festival, there was an alarming situation when about 100 people, including several children, got sick in Bihar's Khagaria district due to religious offerings (prasad). The event took place on the night of February 17, 2026, and has generated a health alert in the region, with authorities suspecting a severe case of food poisoning.
The Event: Religious Celebration Becomes a Medical Emergency
The crisis occurred late Tuesday night in the Nayagaon Panchkhutti hamlet, under the jurisdiction of Parbatta police station. Villagers had gathered at a temple to celebrate Maha Shivratri, where a traditional offering consisting of milk and hemp-based "Prasad" was distributed. However, soon after consumption, people complained of severe nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. The number of symptomatic patients surged to nearly 100 by Wednesday morning, leading to panic throughout the panchayat.
Immediate Medical Response
Panchayat head Ram Vinay Kumar promptly alerted the Community Health Centre (CHC). A medical team was sent to the village, led by Medical Officer In-charge Dr. Kashish. At Kali Temple, a makeshift health camp was set up for the immediate primary care of these villagers.
- Casualties: No deaths have been reported.
- Today, the vast majority of the patients are stabilized and declared out of danger.
- Critical Cases: A few cases where the conditions of the children seemed more severe were referred to specialized pediatric services at the main hospital in Parbatta.
Suspected Cause: Hygiene and Contamination
Initial inquiries led by the medical staff suggest food poisoning. The combination of milk-based ingredients and the lack of proper hygiene during the large-scale preparation could have caused bacterial contamination, doctors argued.
"All symptoms strongly suggest food poisoning associated with the prasad. But now the situation is under control, and we have advised the community to be very careful about food hygiene in these huge religious gatherings," stated Dr. Kashish.
Action by Government and Local Authorities
The district administration is aware of the incident, and health officials will be gathering samples of food used in the offering to perform lab tests. This incident comes on the heels of reports in the state of similar food safety issues, and demands for tighter restrictions on distributing “Langar” and “Prasad” at public religious facilities.
Local residents have received instructions to monitor their health for the next 48 hours and inform the nearest health facility immediately if they start to experience similar symptoms.
