Patients kept suffering, doctors says their duty over:Relatives allege that poison was mixed in the food served to staff at Khajuraho resort

Three employees of Gautam Resort in Khajuraho died and several others fell seriously ill after eating staff food on Monday. Workers suffered vomiting, diarrhoea, dizziness, and sudden loss of vision. Families allege that poison was mixed in the meal and also accuse the hospital of negligence. Police, doctors, and officials are still unable to confirm the exact cause of death. Staff fall ill after lunch Employees at Gautam Resort ate potato–cauliflower curry and rotis for lunch. Soon after, many began vomiting and having diarrhoea. Some fainted, lost vision, or had foam coming from their mouths. Rajkumar Rajak said his sister-in-law, Girija, who worked as the staff cook, also ate the same food and collapsed shortly after. Family alleges poison in the food Rajkumar claimed that the symptoms were not normal and insisted poison was mixed in the food. He said foam in the mouth is unusual in simple food poisoning. He immediately took Girija to the civil hospital, but the duty doctor refused to examine her at first. Doctor allegedly refused treatment initially According to Rajkumar, Dr Umrao Singh said his duty had ended. He examined Girija only after half an hour of pleading, gave an injection, and referred her to Chhatarpur. When the family asked for an ambulance, they were told it was busy with VIP duty. They arranged a private vehicle and took her to Chhatarpur. She was later referred to Gwalior. Girija died on the way to Gwalior. 3 workers dead, several admitted Three resort workers died: Five others — Dayaram, Hardik, Ravi, Roshni, and Golu — are admitted at JAH Hospital in Gwalior. Families describe last moments Pragilal: Son now alone Pragilal worked as a labourer. His wife had died of a snakebite three years earlier. His brother, Balu, said Pragilal called complaining of stomach pain. He later died while being taken to Gwalior.His 12-year-old son has now lost both parents. Ramswaroop: Collapsed outside the resort gate Ramswaroop’s son, Arvind, said his father was found vomiting at the resort gate. He took him to a medical shop, then a local hospital. Staff there asked him to first get a slip.The doctor had not arrived even after half an hour. A compounder gave an injection, but the cases kept rising. All patients were told to go to Chhatarpur due to lack of facilities. Ramswaroop told his son, “I will not survive.” He died at JAH Hospital at around 5 am. Villagers protest after deaths Angry locals blocked the road in Khajuraho after the incident. They lifted the blockade only after officials assured strict action. Cause of death still unclear Dr Sarthak Jugran, Head of Forensic Medicine in Gwalior, said the short post-mortem report does not confirm whether it was poisoning or food poisoning. A viscera test is required. All three bodies have been preserved for chemical analysis. Doctors who conducted the post-mortem noted more signs of poisoning than typical food poisoning. Resort kitchen sealed Gautam Resort has 50 rooms and opened in 2022. Because of a scheduled cabinet meeting, 40 rooms had been booked for Tuesday. The staff kitchen, located behind the resort, has been sealed. Food for employees is prepared in two rooms at the back of the resort. Chhatarpur CMHO, Dr RP Gupta, confirmed that the resort has been sealed and a detailed investigation is under way.