Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday demanded a high-level investigation into the temple ‘prasada’ incident at Maramma temple in Chamarajnagar district to bring the culprits to book.
“I have never heard of temple prasada being poisoned. The incident of this magnitude with 11 people dead and 80-90 people hospitalised with some in critical condition is something unimaginable. I am shocked over the tragedy. It’s a most inhuman act and is deplorable,” he told the reporters after visiting the patients at K.R. Hospital.
The former CM also visited the patients admitted in some private hospitals here. KPCC President Dinesh Gundu Rao, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies B.Z. Zameer Ahmed and a few Congress MLAs accompanied him.
Mr. Siddaramaiah said the priests and the management of temples should be extra cautious in ensuring the safety of the ‘prasada’ before distributing to the devotees. He added that the doctors were doing their best to save the patients and the condition of many admitted are stable. Those admitted in ICU are being closely monitored, he said.
The former CM said that the doctors treating patients at K.R. Hospital told him that they were prepared and equipped to handle the patients and there was no shortage of drugs and other essentials.
“I have told the doctors to provide best treatment, even if it is providing treatment in private hospitals since the government has announced [they will] bear the cost,” he said.
KPCC President Dinesh Gundu Rao announced ₹1 lakh relief from the party side to the next kin of each of the deceased.
Mr. Rao, who visited the patients, said nobody would have ever imagined that the ‘prasada’ they eat is poisoned and will claim their life. The incident is most tragic, he added.