Elderly woman dies, 15 others fall ill after consuming ‘Kheeri prasad’ in Odisha’s Balasore

Bhubaneswar: An elderly woman reportedly died and 15 others fell ill after they partook Kheeri prasad in Bahanaga area of Odisha’s Balasore district today.

The deceased has been identified as Nilamani Sahu (63), sources said.

According to sources, Kheeri prasad was offered to the deities during Ratha Jatra at Talakurunia village under Bahanaga block of Balasore yesterday.

A few villagers of Talakurunia partook the kheeri prasad today and also sent the same to their relatives in nearby Athilabaj village, sources added.

At least 16 people of the two villages fell ill after they partook the prasad. They were immediately rushed to a nearby health centre. Later, Nilamani and another villager were shifted to Balasore district headquarters hospital (DHH) after their condition deteriorated, sources said.

Nilamani died while being treated at the DHH.

The administration, meanwhile, sent a team comprising doctors and health staff to the two villages to meet any emergency situation.