….after a meal of hassar curry and rice
DOCTORS at the Georgetown Public Hospital were late last night battling to save the lives of five family members – a mother and father and their three teenaged children, admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital with symptoms of food poisoning. Those admitted are Sukdeo Dharamdat also called Tony, 42; his wife Nandranie  Sukdeo, 40; their two daughters Hamwanttie and Bhunwaneshar Dharamdat, 15 and 13 respectively; and son Chaitram Dharamdat also called Satesh, 17.
Hospital authorities last night said that the father, Sukdeo, and his son Chaitram were most seriously affected and were likely to be transferred to the High Dependency Unit.  Also in serious condition and unable to speak were mother Nandranie and 15-year-old Hamwantie, who kept tossing and turning in pain. They were all being fed intravenously.
Meanwhile, 13-year-old Bhunwaneshar, also called Shoma, the youngest and only family member who appeared to be in a fairly stable condition last night, relived the account of the sordid experience which began at their home at Mahaicony Creek on Thursday afternoon.
Shoma recalled that the family had eaten a meal of hassar curry at midday Thursday; and by 18:30 hrs had begun complaining of feeling unwell. She said symptoms experienced were nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhoea and everyone had the same experience. The teen recalled that towards night their condition worsened and her dad called out  for a neighbour who brought his boat and transported them all to the Mahaicony Hospital.
The five were admitted to the institution and remained there until around midday yesterday, when they were transferred to the GPH. They were triaged and admitted around 14:45hrs.
Asked what else they had to eat, Shoma said nothing else.  All they ate was hassar curry and rice without any greens or other vegetables.
Meanwhile, residents of the East Coast Demerara recalled that a few days ago fish along the upper reaches of the coastland were mysteriously dying and several were seen floating along the East Coast waterways.