Bijnor (Uttar Pradesh) : On the first day of the Sharadiya Navratri festival, Thursday, many individuals in Bijnor began to feel ill after consuming food made with allegedly toxic buckwheat flour. A large number of people exhibited symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and body tremors, leading to their immediate admission to local Community Health Centres (CHC).
The health department at the CHC was overwhelmed by the influx of patients, with those in severe condition being transferred to the district hospital for ongoing treatment.
Bijnor’s District Magistrate (DM), Superintendent of Police (SP), and Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Ankit Kumar Agarwal, stated, “Numerous individuals have become ill after eating buckwheat flour, with 125-150 patients identified so far. Some have been referred to the district hospital. We have sent samples for laboratory analysis, and strict action will be taken against those responsible.”
He expressed concern over the actions of adulterators, saying, “It is unfortunate that some individuals prioritize greed over health and faith. This incident occurred in several villages in the Chandpur area of Bijnor, coinciding with the first day of Sharadiya Navratri. Many people, who were observing a fast, consumed dishes made from buckwheat flour to break their fast, only to experience food poisoning shortly thereafter. Families began to show symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, and tremors, leading to a surge of patients at the nearby CHC. Those in critical condition were transferred to the district hospital during the night.”
The CMO also checked on the patients’ conditions and coordinated with the hospital and village leaders to ensure adequate treatment. Patients continued to arrive throughout the night, receiving care at both private and government facilities. Tests are being conducted on the contaminated buckwheat flour, and the food department has collected additional samples for analysis.