At least 84 BSF personnel were hospitalised in Manipur following suspected food poisoning after breakfast in Imphal West. The jawans received treatment at RIMS, with doctors reporting stable conditions as investigations continued to determine the cause.
At least 84 Border Security Force (BSF) personnel deployed in Manipur were hospitalised on Thursday following suspected food poisoning after consuming breakfast, officials said. The affected personnel were taken to the government-run Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal for treatment, where doctors reported that their condition was stable.
According to officials, the BSF personnel had arrived in Manipur from outside the state on Wednesday and were staying at a temporary camp in Imphal West district. Reports said the jawans fell ill after consuming puri and aloo sabzi for breakfast at around 8.30 am.
Following the incident, the affected personnel were taken to RIMS, where they received immediate medical attention in the emergency department. A hospital official said the personnel were being treated and their condition remained stable.
A senior doctor at RIMS told the media that there had been no signs of deterioration in the health of the affected personnel. Medical examinations and tests were being conducted to determine the cause of the suspected food poisoning.
The exact source of the illness had not been established at the time of reporting. Further medical assessment is expected to help determine whether the symptoms were linked to the food consumed at breakfast or another cause.
The incident prompted concern among the state’s political leadership, with Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh and Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh expressing their concern for the affected security personnel.
In a social media post, Chief Minister Khemchand Singh said the well-being of security personnel remained a priority for the government. He wished all the affected jawans a speedy and complete recovery and urged the concerned authorities to ensure that they received the best possible medical care.
“The well-being of our security personnel remains a priority. I wish all the affected jawans a speedy and complete recovery,” the Chief Minister said, adding that his thoughts and prayers were with them during the difficult time.
Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh also visited RIMS to take stock of the situation. In a social media post, he said the BSF personnel had arrived from Chhattisgarh on Wednesday and were staying at a camp in the Taothong Lamkhai area of Imphal West district. He also wished the affected jawans a speedy recovery.
The incident has drawn attention to the importance of food safety and health monitoring at temporary camps housing security personnel, particularly when large numbers of personnel are accommodated at a single location.
BSF personnel, along with members of other Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the Army, have been deployed across Manipur to assist the authorities in maintaining law and order. The state has experienced ethnic violence since May 2023, resulting in continued security deployments in affected areas.
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The hospitalisation of 84 personnel represents a significant health concern for the deployed force, although officials reported that the affected jawans were stable following treatment.
Medical teams are continuing their assessments to establish the cause of the suspected food poisoning. Further information on the condition of the personnel and the findings of the medical tests is expected as the investigation progresses.
Authorities are expected to monitor the situation closely and ensure that the affected personnel receive appropriate medical attention until they recover.
