MITHI: Two minor siblings died and over 40 other men, women and children fell ill after consuming a rice dish served at the chehlum of three persons — who had also died of food poisoning — in Bachal Soomro village near Kaloi town of Tharparkar district late on Wednesday evening.

The mourners, mostly members of the Soomro community, had almost finished the meals at the chehlum gathering when some of them started vomiting and then fainted. Many others also suffered the same conditions one after the other.

Twenty of them were taken to different hospitals in Mithi and Naukot towns where doctors pronounced death of two minor siblings on arrival. They said 10 of the patients were in critical condition.

One of the deceased siblings was identified as Waziran Soomro, 10, but her minor brother’s name could not be ascertained immediately.

Residents of the village strongly believed that the rice dish served to the mourners was responsible for the episode. They recalled that the three persons for whom the chehlum was held had also died after eating contaminated food.

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2020