Daijiworld Media Network - Bhatkal (SP)

Bhatkal, Jan 15: In a shocking incident reported from Hurulisal near here, a mother-son duo who consumed customary bitter concoction on Wednesday January 14, died within a short time thereafter.

The deceased have been identified as Honnamma Naik (42) wife of Kuppa Naik and her son Kumar Kuppa Naik (17). On every Sankranti day, the families here follow the practice of consuming a bitter drink prepared by using the bark of a wild tree, followed by sweets thereafter. Wednesday being the Sankranti day, the family as well as their neighbouring families were about to consume the bitter concotion.

Honnamma who distributed the drink in glasses to all the families, drank it first, followed by Kumara. Both started writhing in pain immediately thereafter. Seeing their plight, other people discarded the drink and provided them first aid. Although a physician was summoned immediately, the two could not be revived.