Over 60 fall ill after consuming Ram Navami prasad in Bengaluru Rural temple

More than 60 people fell ill after consuming Ram Navami prasad during temple celebrations in a village of Devanahalli taluk in Bengaluru Rural district , prompting authorities to launch a probe into suspected food contamination , officials said on Sunday.

The incident occurred in Bettanahalli village , where devotees had gathered for the annual Ram Navami festivities. Officials said around 400 devotees consumed the prasad distributed during the event on Saturday. Several of them began experiencing stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhoea-like symptoms in the early hours of Sunday.

The affected devotees were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. Forty-six patients were admitted to the Primary Health Centre in Devanahalli , while the remaining were shifted to a private hospital.

“ Sixty people developed illness in the wee hours of Sunday. After treatment, all of them are out of danger ,” Bengaluru Rural District Health Officer Lakka Krishna Reddy told reporters.

Following the incident, senior health officials and rapid response teams rushed to the village and launched a field investigation. Health workers, including ASHA staff, carried out door-to-door checks to identify any additional cases and ensure timely medical assistance.

Authorities have also collected samples of the temple prasad and sent them to the Forensic Science Laboratory to determine the exact cause of the illness. Officials said the investigation will examine whether contamination occurred during preparation, storage or distribution of the food served during the festival.