180 people suffer from food poisoning after eating ‘kuttu’ flour meal in Yamunanagar

Shiv Kumar Sharma

Tribune News Service

Yamunanagar, March 26

As may as 180 people were taken ill after they reportedly ate food made of ‘kuttu’ flour in twin towns of Yamunanagar and Jagadhri.

The affected people were admitted to Mukund Lal District Civil Hospital, Yamunanagar, and Civil Hospital Jagadhri with complaints of stomachache and vomiting.

“120 patients have been admitted to Civil Hospital, Jagadhri, and 60 patients to Mukund Lal District Civil Hospital, Yamunanagar, after they had food poisoning. They were complaining of vomiting, abdominal pain, giddiness and mild tremors. Only a few complained of loose motion,” said Dr Vijay Dahiya, Civil Surgeon, Yamunanagar district.

According to information, a few affected people started coming in civil hospitals of Yamunanagar and Jagadhri at about 8 pm on Wednesday. But, at midnight, both hospitals were flooded with patients complaining of food poisoning and the affected persons continued to come till 3 am on Thursday.

Dr Dahiya added that the patients told them they had taken ‘kuttu’ meal, a flour used during navaratra which is underway, on Wednesday evening.

“After enquiring from patients we found all had consumed food made of kuttu atta,” said Dr Dahiya.

He said that the condition of the patients had improved and was now stable.

“A majority of the patients are female,” said Dr Dahiya.

He said that grocery shops would be checked today and samples of kuttu flour taken.