More than 100 people fall sick after consuming adulterated buckwheat flour in Dehradun
Dehradun (PTI): Over a 100 people were hospitalised here due to suspected food poisoning after consuming adulterated 'kuttu' (buckwheat) flour, an official said on Monday.
While 66 people who suffered from food poisoning were admitted to Coronation Hospital and 44 to Doon Medical College and Hospital, Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Singh stated.
The health of some of these individuals deteriorated on Sunday night, while others were brought to the hospital on Monday morning, he said. However, the condition of all the patients is now normal and there is nothing to worry about, he added.
The buckwheat flour, which caused the illness, was supplied from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh.
Based on interrogations with the patients, the police have identified and sealed 22 shops from where the buckwheat flour was purchased. All food items from these shops were confiscated, and the shopkeepers have been called for questioning, the SSP said.
He added that the District Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police in Saharanpur had been informed and a team had been dispatched to Saharanpur.
Upon receiving information about the incident, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited Coronation Hospital and inquired about the patients’ conditions.
Wishing them a speedy recovery, he directed the District Magistrate of Dehradun and Health Department officials to ensure they received proper treatment. He also instructed that the number of beds in the hospitals be increased if necessary.
Dhami further directed the Health Secretary to investigate the matter thoroughly and take strict action against those responsible.
He emphasised that the Health Department, Food Safety Department and other relevant agencies should collaborate to ensure such incidents do not recur and that appropriate action is taken against all those responsible.
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SP has ended contract with I-PAC due to fund constraints: Akhilesh Yadav
Lucknow (PTI): Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday said his party has severed its association with the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) due to a lack of funds.
He dismissed speculations that the termination of contract was because of recent election results.
Addressing a press conference here, Yadav said the party had engaged I-PAC for a brief period ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections but could not continue the arrangement.
"Yes, we had an association. They worked with us for a few months, but we are not able to continue because we do not have that kind of funding," he said.
The I-PAC is a political consultancy firm known for managing major election campaigns across the country.
Election strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor has also been associated with the organisation in the past and has worked with multiple parties, including the BJP and the Congress.
In a lighter vein, Yadav took a swipe at the ecosystem of political consultancies. "We thought that if we have to work with a 'winning agency', then there are several big companies."
He said that some people suggested conducting surveys, hiring another firm, keeping a social media company, and even engaging agencies for negative campaigning against other parties.
"There are one or two more companies whose names are not yet known. I can get those for you as well," Yadav said.
Yadav rejected the suggestion that the decision to end the deal was influenced by recent election outcomes in states such as West Bengal.
"There is no such thing. Do not ask questions based on baseless reports. That is not true," he said.
"This is not the reason for ending the agreement. We simply do not have enough funds. If you (the media) give us funds, we can hire another company," the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said.
