Family of four in Odisha’s Keonjhar fall critically ill after consuming ‘toxic wild mushrooms’

A routine foraging trip turned into a medical emergency for a family of four in Keonjhar district after allegedly consuming some poisonous mushrooms collected from a nearby forest.

The incident occurred in Balia village under Mahuldiha police station limits, where all four family members fell critically ill shortly after their meal. They were subsequently rushed to the Anandapur Sub-Divisional Hospital in a critical state, informed sources.

According to preliminary information, the family had ventured into the jungle on Tuesday afternoon and returned with a variety of mushrooms, presumed to be edible.

Unaware of their toxicity, the mushrooms were prepared and consumed for dinner. Within hours, the victims began suffering from severe symptoms of food poisoning, including uncontrollable vomiting and diarrhoea.

Local residents acted quickly to shifted them to the hospital after their condition deteriorated. 

“They went into the jungle for food and brought some mushrooms. However, they fell ill and complained of severe pain and vomiting after consuming those mushrooms,” said a relative of the affected, while also adding that a few from the locality had also consumed the mushrooms and were showing similar symptoms.

As of the last reports, all victims are currently undergoing intensive treatment, and their condition continues to be monitored closely by attending medical staff.

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A Recurring Danger in Forest-Dependent Regions

Incidents of mushroom poisoning are not uncommon in rural Odisha, particularly in tribal and forest-fringe villages where families rely heavily on natural forest produce for food, especially during lean agricultural months.

In the absence of structured awareness campaigns, many villagers continue to collect and consume wild mushrooms during the monsoon, assuming them to be safe.

Warnings from medical authorities from earlier incidents had cautioned that many wild mushrooms closely resemble edible species, making it difficult to distinguish between the two without scientific knowledge or proper training.

Once ingested, toxic mushrooms can attack internal organs, especially the liver and kidneys, leading to potentially fatal outcomes if treatment is not administered in time.