Bilaspur, 8 February 2025: Initial information was received about the death of 7 to 8 persons in village Lofandi, Thana Koni Tehsil Bilaspur, on which the district administration took immediate cognizance. The administration and police team reached the spot to investigate the incident. The team included Superintendent of Police, CEO District Panchayat, Municipal Corporation Commissioner, SDM and Health Department team. On the basis of preliminary inquiry and investigation from the villagers present on the spot, it came to light that a marriage ceremony was organized at the house of Shravan Devangan, a resident of village Lofandi, between 3 February and 6 February, in which the villagers of the village were invited to the collective feast. On inquiry from the villagers, it was also found that some villagers of the village have died in the last 4-5 days, and some people are admitted in the hospital for treatment. When the villagers were asked in detail about the above, they told that some villagers caught fish from the river on 6 February and cooked and consumed the fish on the banks of the river. When asked about the pre-death symptoms of the deceased villagers, the villagers said that they had stomach ache, vomiting, dizziness, lethargy etc.
The villagers also told that one of the deceased villagers died of snakebite. Some of the deceased villagers were also reported to be already ill. During investigation, the district administration team found that Devprasad Patel and Shatrughan Devangan died on 5 February 2025. The case number 07/2025 of the deceased Devprasad Patel was registered in Koni police station, the Panchnama and the statement of the son of which mentions snakebite as the cause of death. On 7 and 8 February 2025, 5 persons died, whose names are Ramuram Sunhale, Komal Lahare, Kanhaiya Patel, Baldev Patel and Kunnu Devangan. Baldev Patel died in Shriram Care Hospital and the cause of death in his death certificate is mentioned as cardio and respiratory arrest. The fact came to light that till 8th February, except for one deceased, the last rites of all the deceased were performed by the villagers themselves, which was not informed to the administration or any other department. The district administration team recovered the body of deceased Ramuram Sunhale, son of Babai Ram, on the spot and immediately sent it to SIMS for postmortem. In the PM report received from SIMS, ‘No specific cause of death has been given yet’
The cause of death can be ascertained as of now. confirmation of cause of death remains pending till viscera, histopathology report and blood analysis report.’ (No specific cause of death could be ascertained as of now. confirmation of cause of death remains pending till viscera, histopathology report and blood analysis report.) is written. The details of the deceased villagers are as follows- 1. Kanhaiyalal Patel father Chaitram Patel age 60 years 2. Shatrughan Devangan father Mahettar Devangan age 40 years 3. Baldev Patel father Chhedilal Patel age 52 years 4. Komal Prasad Lahare father Gaya Ram Lahare age 56 years 5. Ramuram Sunhale father Babais Sunhale age 59 years 6. Kunnu Devangan (Nanhu) father Baba Devangan age 35 years 7. Dev Kumar Patel father Chaitram Patel age 45 years. At present, a special health camp has been set up in the entire village by the Health Department, Food Safety Department, Mitanins and the MMU unit of the Municipal Corporation. In which they are conducting intensive door-to-door campaigns and conducting tests.
District Administration
Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh