Insects in food distributed at gruel centre raises alarm among residents of Kavadigarahatti

CHITRADURGA: Panic gripped Kavadigarahatti in Chitradurga after food provided by the Social Welfare Department at the gruel centre there was found to be contaminated with insects.

Residents showing the contaminated food to the tahsildar.

The government had started a gruel centre at Kavadigarahatti after one person died and many people fell ill after consuming contaminated water last month. Now, residents of the entire locality are tense as they have been getting food from the same gruel centre.

An insect was found in the food provided at the gruel centre.

Angry residents of the Kavadigarahatti blocked the National Highway-48 and demanded that Deputy Commissioner Divya Prabhu visit them on Tuesday night. They also engaged in a verbal duel with tahsildar Nagaveni, snatched food packets and demanded that it should be sent to the FSL for testing.

Residents arguing with the officials at the gruel centre.

The protesters also alleged that the test results of the contamination had been manipulated to bury the issue. They relented only after the police intervened and convinced them to vacate the highway. A case has been registered in connection with the food contamination at Puttur Rural police station.