Minor Dies, Five Of Family Fall Ill After Suspected Food Poisoning In Odisha’s Kendrapara

The incident was reported from Kupuni village under Pattamundai block, where members of Ananta Senapati’s family complained of severe stomach pain shortly after consuming food at home.

According to local sources, the condition of the family members deteriorated rapidly, with several of them suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea. All six affected persons were admitted to the district headquarters hospital for treatment.

Two critically ill members of the family — Baburabahan Senapati and minor Swadhin Senapati — were later shifted to a hospital in Cuttack after their condition worsened. Swadhin was declared dead during treatment, while the others are undergoing medical care, officials said.

Health authorities launched an inquiry into the incident amid suspicion that the illness may have been caused by food poisoning.

Kendrapara Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Sachidananda Mishra said preliminary investigation indicated that the family had consumed stale vegetable curry that had been prepared earlier in the day and eaten at night after being kept in hot conditions.

“Our team visited the house and examined the food consumed by the family. It appears they ate leftover vegetable curry that had spoiled due to the heat, leading to food poisoning,” Mishra said.

He said rectal swab samples had been collected for further examination and added that no similar illness had been reported from neighbouring households or the surrounding area.

“The preliminary inquiry suggests this was an isolated case linked to the food consumed by a single family,” the CDMO added.

Local health officials have advised residents to avoid consuming stale or spoiled food, particularly during hot weather conditions, and to seek immediate medical attention in case of symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea or severe abdominal pain.

The district administration said a detailed investigation was underway.