New Delhi: Around 200 people fell ill here
on Tuesday after consuming food articles prepared from contaminated
buck wheat, following which the Delhi Government ordered a
probe into the incident.
Police detained 10 people in connection with the
incident, which took place in east and north-east Delhi
localities, and warned citizens not to buy buck wheat from
open sack.
A senior police official said a total of 187 people --
107 in east Delhi and 80 in north-east Delhi -- were admitted
to various hospitals in the city.
Locals in Nandnagri, Gokalpuri, Jagatpuri, Gandhinagar,
Kalyanpuri, Trilokpuri and Chilla Gaon were the most affected.
It all started at 7 am when patients complaining of
vomiting, stomach ache, diarrhea, and dizziness started
pouring in different hospitals including Lal Bahadur Shastri
Hospital, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital and Dr Hedgewar Hospital.
"Nandu Masala Mill in Mandoli is found to be the
manufacturer of the kuttu flour (buck wheat) consumed by the
victims. Some persons have been detained in this connection.
Raids are being conducted," Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan
Bhagat said.
Locals alleged the mill owner was close to senior
politicians.
A doctor with Lal Bahdur Shastri hospital said, "A number
of people have been admitted since morning in our hospital.
All have been diagnosed of food poisoning. However, none of
them are serious. We have discharged a few of them."
Since we are running short of beds we have refereed some
to GTB and other hospitals. "After inquiring from patients we
found all have consumed food made from buckwheat as this is a
compulsory ritual for the ongoing Navratra festival," a doctor
with GTB hospital said.
Bhagat said the victims had purchased the buck wheat from
open sack in retail.
"People are advised to check the expiry date of the
packet containing Kuttu flour and the name of flour mills
before using it. People are also advised not to purchase
kuttu flour from open sack," Bhagat said.
The District Administration and emergency services have
been alerted and teams of Food and Adulteration Department
have been put in service, he said.
Meanwhile, Health Minister A K Walia directed K S Singh,
Director, Prevention of Food Adulteration to conduct the probe
into the incident. "Strong action would be taken against the
guilty," he said.
Officials from Prevention of Food Adulteration department
also conducted raids in various markets and lifted samples of
wheat and other food articles. Walia said PFA has been told to
lift samples in large number from East Delhi and other areas.
PTI
