36 hospitalised in Mathura after having food made of buckwheat flour
Mathura (UP), (PTI): Thirty-six people were taken ill at different places here after consuming food items prepared from poor quality buckwheat flour used during fasting in Navratri, officials said on Wednesday.
With nine-day fasting for 'Chaitra Navratri' beginning on Tuesday, several people who consumed 'puris' and 'pakodis' made of 'kutu atta' complained of vomiting, nausea and diarrhoea and were admitted to different hospitals, they said.
According to Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Ajay Kumar Verma, so far 36 people have been admitted to different hospitals in the district.
District Magistrate Shailendra Kumar Singh said 14 persons were undergoing treatment in the district hospital. Information is being gathered from other places as well to find out if someone else fell ill for the same reason, the DM said after visiting the district hospital.
"On Tuesday, we got information that some people in the district's Vikas Nagar, Mahendra Nagar and Dwarikesh Nagar areas complained of health problems after consuming food items prepared from buckwheat flour purchased from a shopkeeper and they were admitted to the government hospital. Their treatment is underway and they are now out of danger," the DM said.
The DM said it seemed that the quality of the flour consumed by the hospitalised persons was poor and had become poisonous. "We will take strictest legal action against all such shopkeepers. In the case of Dwarikesh Nagar, a case is being registered against the shopkeeper from where the flour was purchased," he said.
CMO Verma said 36 people so far have been admitted to different hospitals in the district.
It has come to light that those who were taken ill in Mahendra Nagar had bought flour from the same shopkeeper in the Kishi Mandi market from where the people of Vikas Nagar had made their purchases.
Nine people in Ading village of Govardhan area are undergoing treatment in a private hospital and six others from Bati village have been admitted to the Joint District Hospital in Vrindavan, the CMO said, adding that some others are being treated in private hospitals. The condition of all those admitted was improving, he said.
The DM said health department teams have been sent to all such places to provide necessary treatment.
Apart from this, the investigation team of the Food and Drug Department has also been asked to collect samples of these items and send them for testing, he said.
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Controversy surrounding book on Shivaji Maharaj 'unwarranted', says Fadnavis
Solapur (PTI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday termed as "unwarranted" the controversy over a book on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, in which Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad allegedly made objectionable remarks against its publisher.
An audio clip surfaced last week on social media, in which Gaikwad was heard using offensive language and threatening Kolhapur-based publisher Prashant Ambi. The MLA referred to the book titled 'Shivaji Kon Hota' (Who was Shivaji), written by CPI leader Govind Pansare and originally published in 1988.
Talking to reporters here, CM Fadnavis, "The book was published in the 1980s. Have those who have raked up a controversy read the book? The stature of the warrior king is so big that no one can insult him. Whatever is happening is anti-social and insensitive."
The controversy over the book is unwarranted, he said, and cautioned against attempts to sensationalise issues merely to remain in the news.
When asked about the BJP's candidates for the upcoming legislative council polls, Fadnavis said appointments and candidate selections are decided by the party's parliamentary board, and not by him individually.
"All decisions will be taken as per the party process," he said, adding that discussions are ongoing and outcomes will be known after due deliberations.
Nine council members, including former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, are retiring on May 13. As per the schedule announced by the Election Commission of India, polling will be held on May 12. The counting of votes will take place on the same day at 5 pm, and the entire process is expected to be completed by May 13.
The BJP has decided to contest four of the nine seats in the biennial elections.
On the sugar sector, he said the state has consistently achieved over 99 per cent of the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) payments to farmers, though there may be minor fluctuations due to market conditions affecting sugar mills.
He added that the government has extended support to the sector and held meetings to address issues faced by factories. A committee has been formed to review post-season challenges and suggest policy measures, including possible assistance from the Centre.
