Over 70 Ill, Including 30 Children, After Community Feast in Balasore
Over 70 residents, including 30 children, fell ill with diarrhoea and vomiting after a community feast in Kharida village, Balasore.
Over 70 people, including 30 children, fell ill with diarrhoea and vomiting after attending a community feast in Kharida village, Balasore district, Odisha, officials said on Friday. The feast was held on Thursday, and those who consumed the food and water began showing symptoms the next day. Authorities suspect the illness may have been caused by contaminated food or drinking water and have sent samples for laboratory testing. Around fifty individuals with severe symptoms were admitted to Jaleswar hospital, while others received first aid. A medical team has been deployed to the village to monitor the situation.
Officials said the feast was organised by a resident of Kharida village for a housewarming ceremony.
The report was updated on August 7, 2026, at 14:49 IST.
What caused the illness?
Officials suspect the illness may have been caused by contaminated food or drinking water. Samples have been collected from the village and sent for laboratory testing to determine the exact cause. Those who consumed the food and water at the event began suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting on Friday.
How are authorities responding?
Around fifty people with severe symptoms were admitted to the Jaleswar hospital, while others were treated with first aid. Hospital authorities said all the affected people complained of diarrhoea and vomiting. A medical team has been deployed to Kharida village to monitor the situation and provide necessary healthcare, an official said.
Have there been similar incidents recently?
The latest case comes months after two major suspected food poisoning incidents were reported in different parts of the country. In Uttar Pradesh's Amroha district in April this year, over 100 people fell ill after eating at a pre-wedding community feast in Kamalpur Kazi village, which was part of a wedding function attended by guests from nearby Haivatpur Chaudharyan village and local residents; within hours of eating, many attendees experienced continuous vomiting, diarrhoea and severe abdominal pain, with over two dozen admitted to nearby private hospitals and clinics while many others received first aid. In May, four people died and 28 others fell ill after a funeral feast in Nuadihi village under Hemgiri block in Odisha's Sundargarh district, affecting residents from Sundargarh and neighbouring Jharsuguda district who developed vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach pain soon after consuming the food; six patients were referred to the district headquarters hospital in Sundargarh, one critically ill case was shifted to VIMSAR, Burla, for advanced treatment, and deaths were reported from both Sundargarh and Jharsuguda districts, with food samples sent for laboratory testing.
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What happened in Kharida village, Balasore?
Over 70 people, including 30 children, fell ill with diarrhoea and vomiting after attending a community feast held during a housewarming ceremony.
How many people were affected by the illness, and how many were children?
More than 70 people were affected, of whom 30 were children.
Where were the severely ill patients taken for treatment?
Around fifty people with severe symptoms were admitted to Jaleswar hospital, while others received first aid.
What do officials suspect caused the illness?
Officials suspect the illness may have been caused by contaminated food or drinking water.
What actions have authorities taken in response to the outbreak?
Authorities have sent food and water samples for laboratory testing and deployed a medical team to monitor the situation and provide healthcare.
Have there been similar food poisoning incidents reported recently in India?
Yes, months earlier over 100 people fell ill after a pre-wedding feast in Uttar Pradesh's Amroha district, and in May four people died and 28 fell ill after a funeral feast in Odisha's Sundargarh district.
Ansuya Minz
Senior District Correspondent, Sundargarh
Ansuya Minz has covered Sundargarh district for six years, reporting on the steel belt's industry, tribal welfare policy, and the Rourkela sports ecosystem. She is based in Rourkela.
View all articles by Ansuya →
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