Iapmala food poisoning case: sample sent for test

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 4, 2022

Minister in-charge Social Welfare Kyrmen Shylla on Tuesday informed that samples have been collected and sent for testing to find out the reason that led to several people falling ill after consuming food during a community feast organized as part of the New Year’s celebration.

“Samples of the food consumed by the patients have been collected and sent for testing to find out the reason that led to the incident. As of now it is suspected to be a food poisoning case but we are hopeful that we will get the real facts,” Shylla told journalists.

Over 30 people from lapmala village in East Jaintia Hills district were taken ill to Khliehriat community health centre (CHC) due to alleged food poisoning after attending a community feast.

According to doctors from the CHC, as many as 160 people from the village had come for treatment to the CHC and of which, 30 of them were serious and had to be admitted for further treatment.

Shylla, also local MLA of Khliehriat however said in fact more than 500 people were affected by the incident and most of them are children, women and elderly people.

Stating that the condition of the people is stable, the minister said, “Around 12 persons are still being hospitalized and they are likely to be discharged tomorrow.”

He also thanked the doctors and medical staff of the Khliehriat CHC and Rymbai PHC besides the Kyrmen Foundation team for extending necessary help to the people affected by the incident.

Shylla said that the doctors and nurses had also gone to the village and provided on the spot treatment. He also extended his gratitude to the local MDC of the area Sanki Shangpung for helping the people during the emergency.

“Fortunately, it was due to the timely action taken by all concerned, not a single life was lost in the incident,” he asserted.