Over 200 fall sick after consuming buckwheat flour in Dehradun, Haridwar; 3 held

Dehradun: Over 200 people, including children, were hospitalised in Dehradun and Haridwar after consuming adulterated ‘kuttu' (buckwheat) flour as a fasting meal on the first day of Navratri. Three people, including two from Saharanpur, UP, were arrested for supplying the contaminated flour, police said on Monday.In Dehradun, 335 people sought treatment at 10 hospitals, with 227 admitted to govt and private facilities. By 8 pm Monday, 58 patients were discharged, while 169 remained hospitalised, according to health department data accessed by TOI.Most cases were reported from Vikasnagar, Dalanwala, Raipur and Mehuwala — in and around Dehradun. In Haridwar's Laksar block, 18 people were taken to hospital.Health officials said around 40 patients fell unconscious. Among the affected were at least a dozen children. Doctors suspect the flour was contaminated with fungus, leading to "food poisoning"."I suddenly felt giddy and anxious, struggling to breathe after eating my meal to break the fast. My neighbours rushed me to hospital," said a patient at Doon Hospital.CM Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the Coronation Hospital on Monday morning, assuring patients of proper treatment.Some patients, however, reported difficulties in getting admitted, claiming they were referred to other hospitals instead of receiving immediate care. In response, the district administration deployed three officers across three hospitals to monitor patient care.Meanwhile, police launched a probe after receiving information from district authorities. By Monday evening, three people, including two from Saharanpur were arrested. In Haridwar, samples from five shops were collected for testing.Dehradun SSP Ajai Singh said police identified 30 shops in the city where the contaminated flour was sold and consumed on Sunday. "Investigation revealed the main supplier was Lakshmi Trading in Vikasnagar, owned by Sheeshpal Chauhan. He had procured unground buckwheat from a unit, M/s Govind Sahay Shankar Lal, in Saharanpur and had it milled at a facility owned by Vikas Goyal, also in Saharanpur," the SSP said. The owners of M/s Govind Sahay Shankar Lal were identified as Deepak Mittal and Nalneesh Mittal, both residents of Saharanpur, Singh said.Based on these findings, an FIR was registered at Dehradun's Basant Vihar police station under BNS sections 274 (adulteration of food), 318(2) (cheating), and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) on a complaint by a food and drug administration official. Chauhan and the Mittals were arrested, while Goyal is on the run.Earlier on Monday, police circulated the names of Dehradun shops that sold the flour on social media to warn consumers.Secretary of the health department, Rajesh Kumar, said all patients are stable and urged people to report adulteration by calling 1800-180-4246. (With inputs from Kalyan Das and MS Nawaz)