Four persons died and 17 others fell ill after allegedly consuming food served at a Dashaha feast in Nuadihi village under Hemgir block of Sundargarh district four days ago.

According to reports, more than 15 people developed health complications after attending the feast organised in the village. Their condition reportedly began to deteriorate soon after consuming the food, with several suffering from diarrhoeal symptoms.

Deaths Reported During Treatment

Among the deceased are two residents of Nuadihi village and two women from Sunakhaen village under Atabira panchayat in Jharsuguda district. The deceased have been identified as Ullas Khadia and Mangal Sukanti Khadia.

Hospital sources said two of the affected patients were being shifted to Burla for advanced treatment. However, they reportedly died shortly before being transported.

The remaining affected individuals were stated to be in stable condition at the time of reporting.

Health Teams Conduct Field Inquiry

Medical teams reached the village where the feast was organised and began collecting information from those who attended the event. Officials are also assessing the health condition of other attendees and monitoring them to prevent any further deterioration.

At the preliminary stage, food poisoning is being suspected as a possible cause of the illness. It is also being suspected that the prevailing heatwave conditions in Odisha may have contributed to the contamination of food.

Water Source Under Scanner

Officials are additionally examining whether the village’s water source may have played a role in the outbreak. According to local information, the village faces water scarcity and relies on a single pond for multiple daily activities, including bathing and other domestic use.

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Doctors suspect that some of the affected persons may have fallen ill after using water from the pond. Medical teams are examining all possible factors behind the outbreak and are taking preventive measures to ensure the illness does not spread further.

The exact cause of the deaths and illnesses will be known after completion of the investigation.