Haldwani, Sept. 1 -- A spate of wild mushroom poisoning cases has gripped the hilly districts of Kumaon in Uttarakhand, resulting in some deaths and hospitalizations in recent months. Police have now stepped in with an extensive awareness campaign to warn villagers against consuming poisonous varieties that flourish during the monsoon. According to police officials, three people have died in separate incidents after eating wild mushrooms in the region. The victims include the sister and grandmother of folk singer Ganesh Martolia from Munsiyari in Pithoragarh district, and a woman from Ranikhet. In another case, two villagers in Bageshwar were hospitalized after consuming toxic mushrooms. Kumaon Inspector General of Police (IG) Riddhim Agarwal said police teams are being deployed to remote villages to spread awareness. "Our personnel are making public announcements, urging residents not to consume wild mushrooms or linguda (a type of fern), which are often mistaken as edible," Agarwal said. She added that beyond crime prevention, the police also have a responsibility to safeguard lives in villages. "Public announcements are being made to alert people about the dangers," she said. Agarwal cautioned that only about 18 percent of mushroom species worldwide are edible, while the rest pose health risks.Despite these tell-tale signs, officials said many villagers continue to consume wild mushrooms and ferns....