Navratri health warning: The first day of Navratri turned into a horrific event, not a day of faith, for many areas of Delhi. Hundreds of people in areas like Jahangirpuri, Mahendra Park, Samaypur, Bhalswa Dairy, Lal Bagh, and Swaroop Nagar consumed buckwheat flour (Kuttu ka Aata), a common food item eaten during the fast. However, within a few hours, this sacred food became the cause of a major health crisis. People began complaining of vomiting and uneasiness and were immediately rushed to the hospital for treatment.
The Delhi Police’s Jahangirpuri police station received the information at around 6:10 a.m. The police immediately took action and began investigating the matter. Dr. Vishesh Yadav, Chief Medical Officer of Babu Jagjivan Ram Hospital, informed the police that approximately 150 to 200 patients had arrived at the emergency ward whose health deteriorated after consuming the buckwheat flour. The hospital staff immediately began treating all the patients, and their conditions soon began improving.
This entire incident has raised concerns among the administration. To ensure public safety, the police immediately launched an awareness campaign. Local shopkeepers and residents were informed of the incident through beat staff and public address systems and urged to remain vigilant. The matter has also been reported to the Delhi Food Department for further action. The Food Department will now investigate what was in the buckwheat flour that caused so many people to fall ill. It is suspected that the flour may have been adulterated or spoiled.
This incident is a major setback for those who are observing the Navratri fast with devotion. In such a situation, the responsibility of the administration to ensure safe food is even greater. No deaths have been reported so far, and the condition of most patients is said to be stable. However, this incident once again raises the serious issue of adulteration and food safety. The police say that the culprits will soon be identified and strict action will be taken against them.