In a shocking incident during the Maha Shivratri celebrations in Palamu district, Jharkhand, 20 children fell seriously ill after consuming golgappas at a local fair in Raghuakhar village under Panki block. The fair, held in Dwarika panchayat, drew crowds from nearby areas including Yadav Tola and Jamuatand, but what should have been a joyous occasion turned into panic as symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration struck the young attendees.
The mishap unfolded on Sunday night, with conditions worsening by Monday morning. Prompt action by villagers led to swift intervention from the health department. Ambulances rushed to the scene, ferrying the affected children to Panki Community Health Center where they are receiving treatment. Officials report that all patients are now stable.
Dhruv Kumar Gupta, a resident of Dwarika, shared his ordeal: his son was among those who savored the street food before succumbing to illness. Medical teams conducted checks on around 100 children in the village, confirming 20 cases.
Dr. Mahendra Prasad, medical in-charge at Panki, and Civil Surgeon Dr. Anil Kumar Srivastava confirmed the rapid response. Health teams remain on high alert, monitoring the situation closely. Authorities have ramped up surveillance and issued advisories urging caution with food hygiene at public events.
Local MLA Dr. Shashi Bhushan Mehta’s representative, Prakash Mehta, visited the health center to assess the situation, joined by community leaders. This incident underscores the risks of unregulated street food at festivals, prompting calls for stricter vendor checks.