FOOD POISONING IN DELHI

222 people hit by food poisoning in Delhi

        At least 222 people were hospitalised with suspected food poisoning as they fell ill after eating food items prepared from buckwheat flour in east Delhi, police said Tuesday, 5th April, 2011.. A few people have been detained for the large-scale food poisoning incident. Most of the victims ate the buckwheat flour items Monday to terminate their daylong fast observed as part of Navratri celebrations. They bought the flour, prepared at a mill in Mandawali in east Delhi, from local shops.   'To end the fast, people consumed buckwheat flour (kuttu ka atta) Monday night. Today morning, more than 200 people started showing symptoms of food poisoning,' said a senior police officer.

      'The victims have reportedly consumed the items cooked from the flour. They are stated to be out of danger,' Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said.'They purchased unpacked flour. Nandu Masala Mill, Mandawali, has been found to be the manufacturer of the flour consumed by victims,' he said. Police are conducting raids in the area. The district administration and food and adulteration department also has started action. Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital Medical Superintendent Veer Singh told IANS: 'Treatment is going on and everyone here is stable. They suffered from food poisoning.'

       Maya Devi, 48, who is admitted to this hospital, said: 'Yesterday (Monday), after consuming food made from buckwheat flour, we went to sleep. Today (Tuesday) morning, when I woke up I was not feeling well. I started vomiting and my condition deteriorated. My husband then rushed me to hospital.'Apart from Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital, the victms have been admitted at Hedgewar Hospital, Guru Tej Bahadur Hospital, Jag Pravesh Hospital and a few private hospitals.Most of the victims are from Nandnagari, Gokalpuri, Jagatpuri, Gandhinagar, Kalyanpuri, Trilokpuri and Chilla Gaon in east Delhi.( Mathrubhumi)

Prof. John Kurakar