Baripada food poisoning: Odisha CM announces Rs 1 lakh ex-gratia

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Baripada, Mar 5:

Expressing grief over the death of two minor students in Mayurbhanj yesterday after consuming poisonous Prasad, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today announced Rs 1 lakh ex-gratia from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) for the bereaved family members.

“CM @Naveen_Odisha expressed deep grief at death of two children from food poisoning in Mayurbhanj, announced ex gratia of Rs.1 lakh each,” office of the chief minister tweeted.

Besides, the district administration also announced Rs 5, 000 each to the family members of the deceased children.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the children were given poisonous food stuff intentionally. The prasad (sev and boondi) was laced with Thymate, a deadly pesticide, and distributed among the children yesterday afternoon after which two minors were killed and six others were admitted to district headquarters hospital in a critical condition, sources said.

The children are, meanwhile, undergoing treatment at the hospital where condition of two was stated to be not out of danger.

It may be mentioned that the unfortunate incident took place at Sana Nuagaon under Chandua police station limits in the district.