The death toll in the food poisoning incident at a temple in Chamarajnagar district rose to 13 with two more deaths on Sunday, Health Department officials said.

Joint Director Health Department Suresh Shastry said two deaths were reported at Apollo Hospital Sunday. The deceased were identified as Mageshwari, 36, and Salamma, 35, he said.

The official said four patients were on ventilator at Suyogh hospital and two of them were critical. He said one more person might need the assisted ventilation.

“So far, 13 devotees have died in the tragic incident at Sulavadi’s Maramma temple in Hanur taluk of Chamarajanagar district. Two persons have been detained for interrogation and the case is being investigated,” tweeted state Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara, who also holds the Home portfolio.

Around 65 people — men, women and children — who also fell ill after taking the same adulterated food are being treated in state-run and private hospitals in the district, about 180km southwest of Bengaluru.

“I have instructed the Muzarai (Endowment) department to be alert and avoid such incidents at any temple in the state,” said Parameshwara.

The tragedy occurred on Friday morning at Sulavadi village where special pooja was conducted at the Maramma Devi temple for groundbreaking ceremony.

Later, prasad was distributed and those who consumed it started complaining of stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhoea-like symptoms. They were rushed to hospitals in Bengaluru, Mysuru as well as neighbouring towns.

At least 100 people are still hospitalised, sources in the Health Department said.

A sample of prasad was sent for lab test the same day.

Police are probing suspected foul play in the incident and the villagers have urged the government to take over the temple management as stories are doing rounds that factional feud within the temple management led to the prasad’s poisoning.

It has also emerged that the CCTV cameras installed in the temple were defunct. Two people have been detained so far in connection with the matter.

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who announced Rs 5-lakh compensation to the kin of the victims, assured the sick devotees being treated in hospitals that the state government would meet their medical expenses.

“I have directed the district administration, including the police to conduct an inquiry into the tragic incident and book the guilty,” said Kumaraswamy in a statement on Friday night.

State Congress President Dinesh Gundu Rao announced Rs 1-lakh relief from the party fund to each of the bereaved families and assured them of stringent action against the guilty.

(With inputs from agencies)