Three inmates dead, many hospitalised after suspected food poisoning near Tenkasi

TENKASI: A suspected case of food contamination at a private home for the elderly in Sundarapandiapuram near Tenkasi has left three inmates, including two women, dead over three days. More than 40 have been hospitalised, and several others are under observation. Police have detained the home’s founder for questioning.

Inmates of Annai Nalvalvu Trust Shelter Home had allegedly consumed contaminated food during non-vegetarian meals on Sunday afternoon and night. According to health officials, 11 inmates initially complained of vomiting and diarrhoea on Monday.

“Instead of seeking immediate medical help, the home’s founder, Rajendran, administered home remedies on Monday morning. It was only later that night that the affected inmates were taken to Tenkasi Govt Hospital,” a senior official said.

The situation worsened over the next two days. Shankar Ganesh, 48, of Sencottai died on Tuesday night, while Murugammal, 45, of Chokkampatti and Ambika, 40, of Sencottai, passed away in the early hours of Thursday. As of Thursday evening, three others remain in critical condition, with around 45 inmates admitted, including 15 of them showing symptoms of food-borne illness. The remaining inmates of the home are under observation, said doctors.

“Most of the patients are elderly and have underlying health conditions, which worsened the impact. Initially, we were not informed they were all from the same shelter. As more patients arrived one by one, it became clear something was wrong, and we informed the police,” a senior doctor at Tenkasi GH, told TOI.

The shelter home, run by a registered trust, houses 59 residents. After the food contamination became evident from preliminary investigation, food safety department officials collected samples from the premises on Thursday morning. “We are analysing the samples of the food cooked and water samples, but we have not yet confirmed if it is food poisoning,” said Pushpa Raj, designated officer, food safety department.

The shelter has since been sealed by the district administration, and alternative accommodation is to be arranged for the inmates once discharged from hospital.


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