PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
On the day the Uttarakhand government launched a campaign to prevent food adulteration and ensure food safety for visitors on the Char Dham circuit, nearly 150 people fell ill in the provisional state capital Dehradun, after consuming buckwheat flour (kuttu atta). The incident occurred on Sunday night, with patients visiting the Government Doon Medical College (GDMC) and the Deen Dayal Upadhyay District Hospital complaining of food poisoning symptoms. Reports indicate that about 47 patients are currently admitted at GDMC, while more than 90 patients are being treated at the district hospital.
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Health minister Dhan Singh Rawat and other officials visited the district hospital on Monday to assess the situation. They expressed their concern for the patients and directed the hospitals to provide adequate care. Dhami stated that complete arrangements have been made for the treatment of affected individuals and instructed the Health department and the district magistrate of Dehradun to ensure all necessary measures are in place. He also ordered the Health secretary to investigate the matter thoroughly and take strict action against those responsible.
Rawat has also directed the district hospital administration to provide better treatment to the patients. Further, the chief medical superintendent of GDMC hospital, Dr RS Bisht informed that about 47 patients are currently hospitalised due to food poisoning after consuming buckwheat flour. The common symptoms among the patients include diarrhea, vomiting and unconsciousness. Fortunately, the conditions of the patients are now stable. Additionally, the administration has reserved 200 more beds at the hospital in anticipation of any further cases, he said.
The medical superintendent at the district hospital, Dr VS Chauhan said that patients began arriving on Sunday night with symptoms of food poisoning after eating buckwheat flour on the first day of Navratri after breaking their fast. He said that more than 90 patients have been admitted, but are currently stable and will soon be discharged. He emphasised that the stale buckwheat flour purchased from local shops may have contributed to this incident.
Many attendees of patients admitted for food poisoning expressed their concerns and urged authorities to take strict action against food adulteration to prevent similar incidents in the future. An attendee, Suman Bala said that five members of her family were admitted to the district hospital after consuming buckwheat flour. She said that, in light of this incident, she will never consume buckwheat flour again during fasting and urged authorities to take action to combat food adulteration in the city.
Another attendee, Vineet Tyagi, also expressed his concern about food poisoning cases that have affected both his wife and mother after consuming buckwheat flour. He said that incidents of food adulteration occur every year. He urged the authorities to take action to permanently address the issue of food adulteration.
Notably, in addition to these, some patients have also been admitted to private hospitals.
