81 women inmates of Mumbai’s Byculla jail take ill, rushed to hospital

At least 81 women inmates of Mumbai’s Byculla jail, and a prisoner’s four-month-old infant, were taken ill on Friday morning. They were rushed to JJ hospital, where doctors said all of them are in a stable condition.

Jail authorities said the numbers could go up, and that all inmates are being monitored closely. Byculla jail has around 388 women prisoners. So far high-profile inmate Indrani Mukerjea, the prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, has not complained of ill health, officials added.

The preliminary report suggests that contaminated water could be the cause.

Rajvardhan Sinha, inspector general of police (prisons), said: “A male prisoner suffered from cholera three days ago, and was given medicines. To prevent an outbreak, all prisoners have been given medicines by the health department.”

Health department officials examined around 300 women inmates after the case of cholera was detected, said jail authorities.

“On Friday morning, several women prisoners complained of vomiting and abdominal pain. They were referred to JJ hospital, where they are under observation,” Sinha said, adding that no complaints have come in from the male prisoners or the jail staff.