Memories continue to haunt families even after 2 yrs of Sulvadi temple tragedy

Team Udayavani, Dec 14, 2020, 1:13 PM IST

Bengaluru: Nearly two years after Karnataka’s one of the worst tragedies- Sulvadi food poisoning- where poisoned prasadam was served at the Kichuguthu Maaramma temple, the families still look haunted with the memories of that dreadful day.

On December 14, 2018, hundreds of people were hospitalized after consuming poison laced prasadam at the temple. The tragedy claimed lives of 17 people including five women and two children. Around 100 fell sick and survived after treatment at various hospitals.

The police cracked the case and arrested all the four accused including junior pontiff of Salur Mutt Immadi Mahadeva Swamy who had allegedly hatched the plan to avenge his enmity with the senior pontiff.

The then JDS-Congress coalition government led by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy had announced compensation of `12.5 lakh to families of the deceased and `1.5 lakh to survivors besides announcing free follow-up health checkups for survivors in major hospitals.

Sadly, most of the survivors who received compensation of Rs 1.5 lakh from the social welfare department had to spend all the money in treatment as many were denied free treatment facility at major hospitals.

Following the incident the temple had been closed for two year was reopen on October 20

. The open field in the premises is occupied by stray cattle. The Rampura police have sealed the temple’s kitchen, the storeroom and the sanctum sanctorum. The temple is guarded by police round-the-clock. The villagers plan a condolence meeting on the first anniversary at Bhrameshwari temple.

While, the temple, under the Muzrai department, is making efforts to welcome devotes from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, the survivors of the infamous prasadam tragedy, most of whom daily wage labourers, are still struggling with the government failing to keep up its promise.