Death Toll in Kandhamal Mango Kernel Tragedy Rises to 3
Cuttack: The death toll in the mango kernel poisoning incident in Odisha’s Kandhamal has reached three, as another woman succumbed to her illness on Monday.
Jita Majhi, who was undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, passed away this afternoon. She had been receiving hemodialysis and ventilator support in the ICU.
The tragedy unfolded on October 30, when two women, Ramita Patmajhi and Runu Majhi, died after allegedly consuming a gruel made from mango kernels in Mandipanka village, Daringbadi block. Six others fell ill, with two being shifted to SCB for critical care on November 2.
The incident sparked outrage, with opposition parties, including BJD, Congress and CPM, blaming the deaths on delayed rice distribution under the Food Security Act. In response to the backlash, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi ordered an inquiry by the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), Roopa Roshan Sahoo, who, along with the Kandhamal district collector, visited Mandipanka to assess the situation.
The Health Department’s investigation revealed faecal contamination in food and water samples collected from the village. Testing showed positive results for hydrogen sulfide, indicating that improperly handled or contaminated fermented rice and mango kernels might have been the cause.
The victims experienced symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. Food Safety Officer reports also confirmed the mango kernel powder was unfit for consumption due to a foul odour.
