Deadly Food Poisoning Outbreak at Madhya Pradesh Resort: 3 Dead, Multiple Critical

Bhopal:

A suspected food poisoning incident has occurred at Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh, where numerous employees at Gautam Resort became seriously ill after consuming dinner.

Three staff members have died, one is missing, and multiple others remain in critical condition.

Officials report that the resort employees became sick late last night following their evening meal at the establishment.

Symptoms included vomiting, diarrhoea, and acute abdominal pain. They were initially treated at Khajuraho health center before being transferred to Chhatarpur District Hospital as their conditions worsened.

Medical staff at the district hospital referred nine critically ill employees to Gwalior for advanced care.

Two individuals died during transportation, while another died during treatment at JAH Hospital in Gwalior.

The surviving employees - Dayaram, Hardik, Ravi, Roshni, and Golu - are currently receiving medical care. Among them, Ravi, Roshni, and Golu require ventilator support. Medical professionals have confirmed symptoms consistent with food poisoning.

Previous reports indicated that nine employees were initially referred from Chhatarpur to Jhansi Medical College. Four were subsequently transferred to Gwalior as their conditions deteriorated further.

Dr ML Mahor, Assistant Superintendent at Jai Arogya Hospital in Gwalior, confirmed the gravity of the situation: "Three are dead, five patients are currently admitted, two of whom are on ventilators. The exact cause of death will be known after the post-mortem. Currently, the case is of food poisoning."

Chhatarpur Collector Parth Jaiswal confirmed the three fatalities and announced financial assistance of Rs 20,000 for each victim's family. The district administration has sealed the resort. Officials revealed that resort owner Vinod Kumar Gautam resides in Belgium.

Autopsies are being performed to determine the precise cause of death. Family members of the deceased have suggested possible deliberate food contamination and are demanding a comprehensive investigation.

Following these deaths, bereaved family members and villagers staged a road blockade, demanding immediate action against the resort.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Aditya Patle and Sub-Divisional Magistrate Prashant Agarwal arrived at the scene with substantial police forces. The blockade ended after approximately three hours of negotiations when authorities promised strict action pending a complete investigation.

Relatives of the victims are insisting on a thorough inquiry.

Ramdin Kushwaha, a victim's relative, stated: "He ate food there and after eating, his health deteriorated. People in Khajuraho referred him to Gwalior. Yes, I think someone must have mixed something in the food, that's why it happened."

The incident has triggered political controversy.

State Congress chief Jitu Patwari criticized the government on social media: "Deaths occurred in the same district where the cabinet is in Khajuraho, but the ministers sitting in the palaces of power are silent. Nine victims were taken to the hospital, yet government officials continued enjoying themselves in the same area at government expense."

When questioned by media, Health Minister Rajendra Shukla responded: "Do ask the owners of the resort."