Khumel, Rolpa, June 1 — A minimum of 110 individuals became sick following the consumption of meals provided during a ceremony in Khumel, Rolpa, on Saturday.
The police stated that the incident took place during the 13th-day death anniversary ceremony conducted at Til Prasad Roka’s residence in Chaurpani, which falls under Ward 3 of Rolpa Municipality. This event was organized following the demise of his uncle, Chitra Bahadur Roka. From approximately 150 participants present, about 110 started showing signs of food poisoning.
Many of those impacted started experiencing nausea around 3 pm. Out of these, 102 sought care at the nearby healthcare center, whereas another 12 patients with severe symptoms were transferred to Rolpa Hospital in Reugha later that evening.
The police inspector, Bijay Chapagain, who serves as the spokesperson for the District Police Office in Rolpa, mentioned that many of the patients obtained initial treatment nearby, whereas those with more serious conditions were sent to the hospital for further care.
Dr. Rishabh Gautam at Rolpa Hospital verified that all the patients had fallen ill due to food poisoning. He explained, “It appears there was a bacterial contaminant in the meals served to many individuals.” Dr. Gautam further noted that inadequate cleanliness practices during cooking might be responsible for this issue.
Out of the 12 individuals admitted to the hospital, four have been released, whereas eight remain under medical care. The majority of these patients have experienced symptoms such as nausea and loose stools.
