The Bengal Story Bureau: Five days after a massive food poisoning outbreak struck the town of Bhiwandi in Maharashtra’s Thane district, 79 people remain hospitalised. The incident, triggered by contaminated snacks at a popular local street food stall, has prompted the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to launch a sweeping crackdown on eateries across the city.
The Outbreak and Symptoms
According to local police, the crisis began on June 17 when several customers consumed items including shawarma, pizza and burgers at an establishment in Khandupada. By the following morning, dozens began experiencing severe stomachache, vomiting and diarrhoea, leading to a massive rush at local healthcare facilities.
Dr Madhavi S Pandare, Medical Superintendent of the government-run Indira Gandhi Memorial (IGM) Hospital, confirmed that a total of 124 patients were admitted since the outbreak began. While 45 individuals have recovered and been discharged, 79 are currently under medical observation.
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“The patients are stable and out of danger. Some of them still complain of abdominal pain and loose motions,” Dr Pandare said. She added that off-duty staff had been recalled to handle the emergency, and patient samples have been sent for microbiological and chemical culture analysis to identify the exact pathogen causing the illness.
FDA Crackdown and Civic Action
The severe health scare forced the FDA to initiate immediate inspections across Bhiwandi. Santosh Shirosia, FDA Assistant Commissioner for Bhiwandi, confirmed that the affected shawarma outlet has been completely sealed after samples were collected for laboratory testing.
“We have sealed at least one eatery for violations and taken action against another for faulty declarations,” Shirosia said. He noted an unusual pattern during the preliminary probe, pointing out that while the stall operated from 4 pm to 2 am, only customers who consumed the food after 10 pm fell ill. Authorities are now closely examining the meat preparation process.
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Running concurrently with the FDA action, the Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation intervened over the weekend. Civic officials demolished the unauthorised portions of the eatery after discovering it was operating without a valid FDA licence. Local representatives have demanded further raids, pointing out that Bhiwandi’s status as a major logistics hub often leads to the unchecked sale of expired food items from nearby godowns.
The FDA has warned that food poisoning incidents typically spike during the hot and humid months of May and June, advising residents to strictly avoid unhygienic street food until the monsoon fully cools the region.
