Daltonganj: The Mehta family in Palamu’s Sikka village, whose five members died in eight days due to consumption of adulterated mustard oil, did not buy from the market but cultivated both mustard and argemone. Later, mustard and argemone oil was extracted at a local unit, Palamu civil surgeon Dr Anil Kumar Srivastava said on Saturday.Addressing a news conference, Srivastava said that the family cultivates both mustard and argemone. “According to information gathered from family members and neighbours, the family later mixed both extracted oils before consumption, resulting in a toxic combination,” he added.Medical experts said that argemone oil is toxic and can cause epidemic dropsy. There is no specific treatment beyond symptomatic management.Srivastava said he has directed the district food safety officer to trace the unit where the oil was extracted.District epidemiologist Dr Anup Kumar Singh said that health teams surveyed 195 houses in Sikka village and tested blood samples of 56 residents after the deaths came to light. All were found normal. Three members of the affected family are undergoing treatment at Rims in Ranchi.
A health survey in Sikka village last month