12 children fall ill in Dumka after consuming toxic fruit

KUMAR PRABHAT 

DUMKA

In a distressing incident reported fromDumka, at least a dozen children fell severely ill after inadvertently consuming a toxic wild fruit. The incident occurred in Kharu Kadma village, falling under the jurisdiction of the Shikaripara police station area.

According to local sources, the children had recently returned home from school and were playing together in the village periphery when they stumbled upon a wild plant. Mistaking the toxic wild pods for edible almonds, the group consumed the fruit. Within a short span of time, the children began complaining of severe uneasiness, nausea, and stomach pain, triggering panic among the family members and villagers.

The affected children were immediately rushed by their families to the Shikaripara Community Health Centre for preliminary medical attention. However, as the condition of several children began deteriorating rapidly, medical authorities decided to shift the critical cases to a higher medical facility. Subsequently, nine of the children were referred and admitted to the Phulo Jhano Medical College and Hospital in Dumka, where they are currently undergoing intensive treatment. Medical staff at the hospital are closely monitoring their condition, which is currently stated to be stable but under observation. Local authorities have urged villagers to educate children about the dangers of foraging unknown wild plants and fruits in the area.