Over 60 Hospitalised After Consuming Fritters on Janmashtami in Mathura

Mathura: Over 60 people, including women and children, were hospitalised for food poisoning after consuming fritters made of contaminated buckwheat flour in UP's Mathura, officials reported on Tuesday. Two shops responsible for supplying the tainted flour were sealed after a team from the District Food and Drug Administration conducted raids. Legal action has been initiated against the vendors.

The affected individuals were fasting for Janamasthami when they experienced symptoms such as vomiting, dizziness, and shivering after eating 'puris' and 'pakodas' made from the flour.

“We had fritters made from buckwheat flour last night. After that, I started vomiting and felt a burning sensation in my stomach,” said Priyanka, a teenager admitted to the government hospital.

Pritam Singh, a resident of Parkham village accompanying a patient, said, “After consuming the fritters, people complained of dizziness, vomiting, and shivering. The buckwheat flour was purchased from a local shop in the village.”

Mahesh, another resident, added, “My wife is unable to stand; she has become very weak, almost unconscious.”

Dr. Bhudev Prasad, in-charge of the Rapid Response Team of the Health Department, reported that complaints of food poisoning were received from several villages in the Farah police station area overnight. “Teams from the Health Department, Farah Community Health Centre (CHC), and District Hospital responded swiftly. Initially, patients were treated at the CHC, but as numbers increased, they were moved to the District Hospital, the 100-bed Joint Hospital in Vrindavan, and SN Medical College in Agra,” he said.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Ajay Kumar Verma confirmed that over 60 people have been admitted to various hospitals. “Patients showing improvement today will be discharged,” he added.

Dr. Verma noted that starting from 10 PM on Monday, individuals observing Janmashtami fast in Farah villages began complaining of stomachaches, vomiting, and diarrhea. Initially treated locally, severe cases were transferred to the CHC and hospitals in Agra.

The affected individuals are from Parkham, Baroda, Mirzapur, Makhdoom, and Khairat villages. They had purchased the buckwheat flour from two suppliers, Jhagdu and Rajkumar, who sourced their goods from major grocery merchants in Farah.

Following the incident, District Magistrate Shailendra Kumar Singh instructed the District Food and Drug Administration to raid and seal the suppliers' shops. Police are searching for the accused shopkeepers.

The CMO stated that six victims were admitted to SN Medical College in Agra, 15 to the District Hospital in Mathura, and the remainder to the 100-bed hospital and CHC in Farah.

The District Magistrate added that the Food and Drugs Department is continuing legal action and collecting samples from shops in the area. He also confirmed that all victims are stable and receiving ongoing treatment.