More than 200 people in northwest Delhi fell seriously ill on Tuesday after consuming contaminated buckwheat flour during a religious celebration, sparking widespread panic and prompting authorities to launch an immediate investigation into the food safety breach.
The health crisis began unfolding in the early morning hours of September 23, 2025, when the Jahangirpuri police station started receiving distress calls around 6:10 AM from residents complaining of severe stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and dizziness. The affected individuals were from multiple neighborhoods including Jahangirpuri, Mahendra Park, Samaypur, Bhalswa Dairy, Lal Bagh, and Swaroop Nagar, all located in northwest Delhi.
Emergency teams rushed to the scene as patients flooded the regional Hospital, where doctors have confirmed that approximately 150 to 200 people had been treated in the emergency ward since morning. Fortunately, hospital officials reported that all patients were in stable condition, with none requiring admission or intensive care.
The mass poisoning has been linked to the consumption of buckwheat flour, which is widely consumed during Navratri as a fasting staple when devotees avoid regular grains like wheat and rice. The timing of the incident was particularly alarming as it occurred during the second day of the nine day Navratri festival, when millions of devotees across northern India rely heavily on buckwheat flour for their ritualistic meals.
Initial investigations suggest the contaminated flour may have been sourced from the Adarsh Nagar market, according to preliminary accounts from affected patients. One resident whose family fell ill told authorities, "Five members of my family fell sick after eating buckwheat I bought from Adarsh Nagar. We had to rush them to the hospital. This should not be happening during such a sacred time".
The incident triggered immediate panic in the affected localities, prompting police to deploy additional personnel to maintain law and order. Beat staff and public address systems were used extensively to sensitize shopkeepers, vendors, and residents about the contamination risk and prevent further cases. Some local residents even gathered at shops where they had purchased the flour, demanding strict action against the sellers.
Delhi's Food Safety Department has launched a comprehensive investigation, collecting flour samples from various stores and warehouses for laboratory testing. Officials are examining whether the flour was adulterated with cheaper materials or contaminated due to improper storage conditions. Food safety experts note that buckwheat flour, if stored in humid conditions, can develop fungal growth and mycotoxins that are poisonous for consumption.
Indian Union Food Processing Industries Minister Chirag Paswan assured the public that a thorough investigation would be conducted, emphasizing the government's zero tolerance approach to food safety violations. "We will not compromise on quality," Paswan stated, promising strict action against those responsible for the contamination. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and other relevant agencies have been mobilized to trace the supply chain and determine the exact source of contamination.
The mass poisoning has highlighted serious concerns about food safety during festival seasons when demand for specialty items like buckwheat flour increases dramatically. Experts warn that the seasonal surge in demand often leads to quality compromises, with sellers sometimes mixing cheaper starches, wheat flour, or other adulterants to increase profits. Poor storage conditions in warm, humid environments can also lead to fungal contamination that poses severe health risks.
This incident bears similarities to previous food poisoning cases involving buckwheat flour during Navratri celebrations. In April 2021, around 400 people in Delhi fell sick after consuming adulterated buckwheat flour, and smaller incidents have been reported in various parts of the country during festival seasons. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India had previously issued advisories about monitoring the sale of buckwheat flour during festivals, specifically warning about the risks of old stock and fungal contamination.
As investigations continue, authorities have urged consumers to exercise extreme caution when purchasing buckwheat flour, recommending they buy only from verified suppliers with proper FSSAI certification and quality seals. The incident has also prompted neighboring cities like Noida and Ghaziabad to increase inspections of fasting related food items as a precautionary measure.
The Delhi food poisoning case serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in India's food supply chain, particularly during religious festivals when demand for specific food items creates opportunities for unscrupulous practices that endanger public health.
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