BAHAWALPUR, Aug 30: The Baghdaul Jadid police on Monday registered a case of food poisoning which had claimed three lives and affected over 50 others at a ‘valima’ at Aghapur on Yazman Road, some 15km from here, on Sunday.

Reports said three participants in a valima reception — a five-year-old girl, drummer Sarwar and Umar Wadaha — died after taking meal, while some 50 others, including women and 13 children, were taken to the Bahawal Victoria Hospital.

DPO Arif Nawaz told Dawn that the police had taken food samples into possession, and an investigation into the incident was being conducted by an ASP.

He also clarified that there were only two casualties.

EDO (Health) Dr Iqbal Dar said the health department had set up an emergency camp for the affected people. He said now only seven people were under treatment at the BVH. He also ruled out the possibility of mixing poison in the food.

Meanwhile, MS Dr Altaf Husain Malik claimed that some 115 affected people were brought to the hospital in two days (Sunday and Monday).