Two Tribal Women Die, Six Critical After Eating Mango Kernel Gruel in Odisha: Government Awaits Investigation Results

In a tragic incident in Odisha's Kandhamal district, two tribal women lost their lives, and six others were hospitalized after consuming mango kernel gruel. Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida confirmed that mango kernel is part of the local tribal diet, often prepared by boiling the seed.

The affected villagers from Mandipanka in Daringbadi block reportedly fell ill after eating the kernel gruel. One of the women, Rasmita Pattamajhi, 22, died at the Mohana Community Health Centre on Thursday, while Runu Majhi, 29, passed away en route to MKCG Medical College in Berhampur. The six others—Pravati Patmajhi, Dranglu Patmajhi, Tuni Majhi, Susama Patmajhi, Jita Majhi, and Jibanti Majhi—are currently in serious condition at the local hospital, according to Dr. Subrat Das, a medical officer.

Dr. Das suspects food poisoning as the cause, though the final reason will be confirmed after further investigation. Following the incident, allegations arose that tribal families were eating mango kernels due to a lack of rice from the Public Distribution System (PDS). However, Kandhamal’s district magistrate Amrit Ruturaj denied these claims, stating that rice was distributed as per PDS norms. He added that a postmortem report is awaited to clarify the cause of death.

Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling has ordered an investigation, with local health teams assessing the situation. The minister noted that while mango kernel consumption is common among tribal communities, it has previously led to health issues. In similar incidents, mango kernel poisoning caused multiple fatalities in Kashipur, Rayagada district in 2001, and in other Odisha regions like Koraput and Nabarangpur between 2012 and 2018.

Deputy Chief Minister Parida emphasized that the government is raising awareness about the risks of food contamination, especially with mango kernels. "It’s not about malnutrition; sometimes, the kernel gets contaminated, causing unfortunate incidents," she said. The government awaits the postmortem report for further action.

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