Mumbai: Eighty Five female inmates of the Byculla prison were admitted to the state-run JJ Hospital on Friday after they complained of abdominal pain, vomiting and giddiness. It is a suspected case of food poisoning.
The inmates had breakfast, soon after which many complained of vomiting and dehydration. The affected inmates were immediately rushed to the hospital. The medical reports are awaited and authorities are ascertaining whether it occurred because of the medicine given to the inmates for prevention of cholera. The prison authorities said that all patients were responding well to the treatment and inquiry will be conducted to determine the cause of the incident.
The Byculla Jail has 390 male and 210 female inmates. Three days ago, a 26-year-old male prisoner was diagnosed with cholera in JJ Hospital.
The inspector general of police (prisons) Rajvardhan Sinha said, “On July 15, four male inmates of the Byculla jail complained about stomach-ache and uneasiness after which they were rushed to JJ Hospital. Upon examination it was revealed that one of them was suffering from vibro cholera while the remaining three had gastroenteritis.”
The medical superintendent of JJ Hospital, Dr Sanjay Surase said, “85 female inmates, a four-month-old baby and one male inmate were admitted to the hospital. All inmates are stable and are under observation.”
JJ Hospital has now turned two of their wards into ‘disaster wards.’
The Food and Drug Administration collected sample of the breakfast consumed by the inmates whereas Brihan-mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) collected the water sample from the prison. Presently distilled water is served at Byculla prison and all preventive measures are being taken.
Byculla Women’s Prison had made headlines last year when an inmate, Manjula Shetye was allegedly beaten to death by the warden and other jail officials.
An internal probe ordered into her death had resulted in the suspension and transfer of multiple personnel.
