4 dead, 28 sick, over suspected food poisoning case in Odisha

A medical team from the local primary health centre rushed to the village and began treatment and surveillance measures

Published on: May 24, 2026, 21:07:26 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty, Bhubaneswar

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Four persons died and 28 others fell ill in a span of four days in Odisha’s Sundargarh district, after they ate at a funeral feast on Thursday. Officials suspect a case of food poisoning.

Soon after consuming the food, several attendees allegedly developed symptoms. (Representative Image/iStock)

Sundargarh officials said people from two villages in Sundargarh and neighbouring Jharsuguda districts had attended a community feast linked to a ritual at Nuadihi village under Hemgiri block of Sundargarh district on Thursday. Soon after consuming the food, several attendees allegedly developed symptoms such as vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhoea.

Sundargarh chief district medical officer Suresh Chandra Mohanty said around 28 people fell sick from the suspected food poisoning. Of them, six were referred to a hospital in Sundargarh and one to VIMSAR, Burla.

Among the deceased are Mangal Sai Nayak and Raibari Pradhan from Sundargarh district while Ullas Khadia and Sukanti Khadia are from Jharsuguda.

Also Read:Odisha boy dies, 4 family members hospitalised in suspected food poisoning case

According to officials, panic spread in Sunakhaen village after multiple residents who had attended the feast returned home and fell ill.

A medical team from the local primary health centre rushed to the village and began treatment and surveillance measures.

Authorities suspect contaminated food served at the feast may have caused the illness, though the exact cause is yet to be confirmed.

Food samples have been sent to the laboratory for examination.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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