India, March 24 -- Two sisters, aged 6 and 3, died on Monday while two others in their family are hospitalised in critical condition after they allegedly consumed take-home ration (THR) of Chhatua (a powder of roasted Bengal gram, wheat, groundnut and sugar) distributed by the local anganwadi centre in Gajapati district, Odisha.

It remains unclear whether the deaths were caused by food poisoning from the take home ration. The exact cause of the incident will only be confirmed after the post-mortem report of the deceased is released, according to Dr Brajaraj Kar of Gajapati district headquarters hospital, who treated the patients.

Officials said the deceased have been identified as Tulasi Badamundi (6) and Gunabati Badamundi (3), daughte...