STNM Hospital recommends enquiry into Lingdok food poisoning incident

ONE SUCCUMBS TO FOOD POISONING AT STNM HOSPITAL
GANGTOK, 04 Jan: One person succumbed to food poisoning at the STNM Hospital today. 43-year-old Shanti Rai of Lingdok passed away at around 5 p.m., falling victim to suspected food poisoning. She was the only patient among the 60 rushed to the hospital for treatment yesterday.
Already in a critical condition when she was brought in, she has become the first casualty of the mass food poisoning which inflicted Lingdok village near here on 01 January. The deceased incidentally hails from the family which hosted the Antheyesti Kriya ceremony on the day and where the people are believed to have contracted food poisoning.

In another significant development, the STNM Hospital has asked the Health Department to initiate an enquiry into the food poisoning incident.
Dr. Uma Pradhan [Medical Superintendent, STNM Hospital], while speaking to NOW!, informed that she has written to the Health Department to set up an Enquiry Committee to look into the food poisoning incident so that such incidents did not happen again. It could not be ascertained whether the Health Department has taken up the suggestion.
It is also informed that doctors have not yet been able to ascertain the exact cause which led to the food poisoning outbreak at Lingdok. For this purpose, a team of doctors was sent to the house where the incident took place. Samples of food items have been collected along with cooking materials and also water samples, informed the MS.
These samples will be tested in the labs in Gangtok and will also be sent to the Food Testing Lab at Guwahati and once the test results come back only will the exact reason of the food poisoning will be known.