IMPHAL: Eighty-four jawans of the Border Security Force (BSF) were admitted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) here on October 15 evening. The entire battalion of BSF became unwell following a morning meal at their temporary camp, officials said.
Home Minister of Manipur Govindas Konthoujam, visited the hospital to take stock of the situation, told reporters that all the patients were stable barring one. “Visited RIMS, Imphal, promptly after 84 BSF personnel of D/58 Battalion were admitted with suspected food poisoning following breakfast this morning.
The personnel had arrived from Chhattisgarh yesterday and were staying at AMR India Ltd., Taothong Lamkhai, Lamshang, Imphal West”, he said.
According to him, the group had eaten breakfast at around 8.30 am, which reportedly comprised puri and potato curry. Soon afterwards, they began suffering repeated bouts of vomiting and loose motions, and some experienced a fall in blood pressure. They were then rushed to RIMS for treatment.
Among those affected were members of Company D of the BSF’s 58th Battalion, who had reached Phayeng only a day earlier, on Wednesday. Officials said the exact number of security personnel and civilians among the 84 patients was not immediately known.
Though the incident is suspected to be a case of food poisoning, the actual cause of the illness has not been confirmed officially. An internal enquiry has been initiated by BSF and the cause of the illness will be known after the medical report comes out, a top.official of BSF said.
Konthoujam commended the doctors and the director of RIMS for their prompt response and care. He said the institute was handling the situation well and that no shortage of medicines, equipment or any other requirement had been brought to his attention.
The BSF battalion reached Imphal only on October 15 from Chhattisgarh and was staying in a temporary camp in Imphal. So far no report of foul play has been indicated by any authority or BSF sources.
