At least 84 Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were hospitalised in Manipur on Thursday after a suspected case of food poisoning, officials said.
The personnel had arrived in the state from outside Manipur on Wednesday and were staying at a construction site in Lamshang, located in Imphal West district.
According to officials, the jawans fell ill after consuming puri and potato curry for breakfast at around 8:30 am. Following complaints of sickness, they were rushed to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal for treatment.
Hospital authorities said the personnel received immediate medical attention in the emergency department and that their condition remains stable.
A senior doctor at RIMS stated that there were no signs of deterioration in the health of the affected personnel. Medical tests are currently underway to ascertain the exact cause of the suspected food poisoning.
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh and Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh expressed concern over the incident and wished the affected jawans a speedy recovery.
In a social media post, the Chief Minister said the well-being of security personnel remains a top priority and urged the concerned authorities to ensure that the affected jawans receive the best possible medical care.
After visiting RIMS, the Home Minister said the BSF personnel had arrived from Chhattisgarh on Wednesday and were staying at a camp in Taothong Lamkhai, Imphal West. He also wished all the affected personnel a speedy and complete recovery.
BSF personnel, along with members of other Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the Indian Army, continue to be deployed across Manipur to assist in maintaining law and order amid the ethnic violence that has affected the state since May 2023.
