Gujarat: 1,200 people suffer food poisoning in Mehsana

PALANPUR: Over 1,200 people were hospitalized after consuming food at a wedding in Savala village of Visnagar taluka in Mehsana district late on Friday night. Local health officials suspect that the victims suffered food poisoning due to consumption of stale or contaminated food.
The incident occurred during the wedding function of local Congress leader Wazir Khan Pathan's son on Friday night.
According to state health minister Rishikesh Patel, who had rushed late in the night to Visnagar hospital most of the affected persons were discharged after treatment. "Fortunately there was no causality. None of the patients was critical. We have ensured immediate treatment for all. Most of the victims who were hospitalized have been discharged by today (Saturday) evening," Patel told TOI.
According to police, guests for the wedding had come from different places including Ahmedabad, Kadi, Kalol, Patan and Banaskantha. The menu for the feast included non-vegetarian food and halwa made out of bottle gourd, they added.
Mehsana district collector Udit Agarwal said that soon after consuming the food people started vomiting and complained of diarrhoea, following which they were rushed to different hospitals in Visnagar, Mehsana and Vadnagar. "We started getting calls of people falling sick after eating at a wedding around 2 am on Saturday. Gradually the number increased. Affected persons were shifted to hospitals in Visnagar, Unjha, Kheralu, Vadnagar and Mehsana town," he said.
The Mehsana district administration had also started a temporary helpline so that people who were feeling sick could get help.
Agarwal said that the samples of the food served at the function were collected by sent to the forensic science laboratory for testing. Samples were also collected by the food and drug department for further testing, he added.
Mehsana superintendent of police Parthrajsinh Gohil said that a note has been made in the police register with regard to the incident and an investigation has been initiated.