Overview

• On the evening of August 3, a woman and eight children from 13 migrant sugarcane harvesting families in Yeriyur village consumed a wild fruit known locally as pichannu.
• They were rushed to Chamarajanagar District Hospital after calling the 108 emergency helpline, where medical staff provided glucose and oxygen support.
• Most victims have stabilized, but four children remain in intensive care under close observation with their condition described as critical.
• Dr KR Mahesha confirmed that laboratory analysis of the fruit samples is underway and that the next 24 hours will be crucial for determining the toxic agent.
• The incident highlights the vulnerabilities of underprivileged migrant workers to unfamiliar environmental hazards and underscores the importance of rapid response in rural areas.