2 die, over 300 fall sick

Patients being treated for food poisoning on the floor of Gaibandha Sadar Hiospital.. PHOTO: STAR

The dead are Shamim Mia, 8, of Ballamjhar village and Merija Khatun, 12, of Raghunathpur village. They died at their homes.

Till yesterday, 124 people were admitted to Gaibandha Sadar Hospital with acute intestinal problem. All of them were showing signs of vomiting and loose motion. Many of the patients were seen taking treatment on the hospital floor due to dearth of bed.

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Police and other sources said over 1,500 people of Uttar Dhanghara, Khamar Raghunathpur, Narayanpur and Kholabari villages in Ballamjhar union attended the Qulkhwani of one Sayed Ali of Uttar Dhanghara Friday night.

After taking food, over 200 people fell sick within a short time. All complained of severe stomach pain. Initially, they took treatment at their homes but the situation soon went out of control.

On Saturday night, 75 of them were rushed to Gaibandha Sadar Hospital. Thirty of them were in critical condition, hospital sources said. Their number rose to 124 yesterday.

The district health department deployed two medical teams in the affected areas, who are treating over 150 patients at their homes, sources said.

The food they took must have been highly adulterated and cooked in an unhygienic place, the doctors said.

"I don't know what really happened after taking food. I felt severe pain in my stomach", said Abdul Hye, a patient at the hospital.

Mozammel Hoq, Chairman of Ballamjhar Union Parishad, said he has arranged 600 bags of 1000 cc IV saline for patients at homes and sent critical ones to Gaibandha Sadar Hospital.