Rapid fatality cluster in Palamu prompts forensic testing of oil and ritual powder

In a distressing episode that unfolded over ten days, five members of the Mahato household in Sikka village, Palamu, lost their lives. The deceased include Kuldeep Mahato (50), his daughter Babita Kumari (20), daughter Indu Kumari, daughter‑in‑law Shweta Devi (28) and son Nakul Mahato (20). The deaths were recorded between June 19 and June 29, with the surviving matriarch, Lakshmi Devi, still receiving intensive care.

Preliminary findings from Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) indicate possible exposure to epidemic dropsy, an ailment caused by mustard oil adulterated with Argemone mexicana seed oil. Symptoms such as edema, cardiac distress, and respiratory failure align with the clinical picture observed in the victims.

Investigators also uncovered that the family had been using a mysterious powder supplied by a village tantric practitioner for several months, mixing it into the cooking oil. This "churna" could have reacted with the already contaminated oil, potentially creating a lethal toxin.

Police, the district health department, and the food‑safety authority have confiscated oil containers, the suspected powder, and related kitchenware. The samples are being sent to a forensic lab for comprehensive chemical analysis. Officials caution the public against the use of unverified oil and emphasize the importance of early medical intervention.