On Tuesday, September 23, around 200 people in northwest Delhi fell ill with symptoms like uneasiness and vomiting after consuming food made with buckwheat flour, also known as kuttu flour. This incident came to everyone’s notice when, at 6 AM, patients from areas including Jahangirpuri, Mahendra Park, Samaypur, Bhalswa Dairy, Lal Bagh, and Swaroop Nagar were rushed to Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial (BJRM) Hospital in Jahangirpuri around 6 AM. Read to know more details.
Northwest Delhi Residents Fall Ill After Consuming Kuttu Flour
During Navratri, people who fast commonly consume kuttu atta to avoid using wheat flour. However, within just two days of this year’s festivities, nearly 200 people in Delhi fell ill after eating it. This information was confirmed by Deputy Commissioner of police (northwest) Bhisham Singh, reported Hindustan Times. Dr Vishesh Yadav, the chief medical officer at BJRM Hospital, also confirmed that all the patients are now stable with no serious illness. The police decided not to share much information to avoid a panic situation in the capital.
After noticing many people feeling uneasy and vomiting, authorities alerted shopkeepers and residents. Along with informing the Delhi government’s food department, they also made announcements over loudspeakers to caution people. The food safety teams will check whether the kuttu flour was adulterated or contaminated.
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Authorities Launch Investigation
In talks with The Hindu, Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, Chirag Paswan, took cognisance of the incident and said that the government follows a zero-tolerance policy towards food adulteration. He noted that kuttu flour is consumed widely during the Navratri festival and assured that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) would conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. As the kuttu floor was bought from different stores, it has become difficult for the authorities to narrow down the cause of the sudden illness in so many people.
To trace the exact cause, retailers and wholesalers linked to the flour supply are being questioned. Police and health officials said they are investigating the case and waiting for test results to find the exact cause of the illness. To ensure there is no panic among residents in Delhi, the police and authorities have assured that the people who fell sick are now doing well.
We hope that the people recover soon and that the authorities are able to find the cause of this issue.
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