Odisha: Dead snake found in Prasad served to devotees in religious event

A dead snake was found in the curry served to the devotees during a religious event in an urban locality in Odisha’s Kendrapara district with people, fearing food poisoning, rushed to a nearby sub divisional hospital in panic, health authorities said on Thursday.

The incident occurred at Nuagaon locality under ward-10 of Pattamundai municipality yesterday night. There was a congregation of around 1,000 devotees at the Bhagabat Parayan Hindu spiritual conference. After the conference came to an end, a community feast followed with Prasad served to the devotees. During the course of the Prasad being served, the organizers were shell-shocked to find a dead snake in the dalma (a curry prepared from vegetable and pulses), said locals.

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After the dead snake was found, the community feast was suspended midway. However, by that time around 700 devotees had eaten the dalma curry container.

All hell broke loose as news of finding a snake in the curry spread like wildfire. Those who had taken the Prasad made a beeline to Pattamundai sub divisional hospital during midnight hours, they added.

People for apparent reasons were scared. We conducted a medical checkup of all and did not find any symptom of food poisoning-induced sickness. After medical counseling, we advised them not to be panicky. In a precautionary measure, a medical team was sent to the locality today morning to ascertain whether anyone reported sickness after the intake of suspected toxic curry. However, none who ate food at the community feast was found suffering from illness, said Dr. Nirakar Parida, Medical Officer, Pattamundai sub divisional hospital.