70+ fall ill after eating kuttu flour meals after Mahashivratri fast in Greater Noida West; FIR filed, shop & warehouse sealed

NOIDA: At least 70 people from three different societies in Greater Noida West—Supertech Ecovillage 3, Himalayan Pride and Royal Court Society— fell ill after consuming meals made of kuttu (buckwheat) flour while breaking fasts during the Mahashivratri festival on Sunday.

The Bisrakh police registered an FIR under Section 275 (sale of noxious food or drink) of BNS and relevant sections of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, on the complaint of the food safety officer. Police also sealed one shop in Royal Court Society and the warehouse which supplied the particular batch. Four people, including the warehouse owner, were detained.


Families reported nausea and vomiting and reached their nearby hospitals on Sunday night, where some continue to be admitted. "My wife, our daughter and I started feeling dizzy around 10pm after eating dinner. We fasted for Mahashivratri and ate kuttu flour rotis for dinner. We earlier thought it was due to low blood pressure, but when we started vomiting, we rushed to the hospital," said Ajay Sharma, a resident of Supertech Ecovillage 3, whose family is admitted at Max Hospital in Sector 128.

Another resident of the same society, Madan Malik, a senior citizen, said, "My wife and I are admitted in the ICU at Kailash Hospital in Sector 71. We ate kuttu roti for dinner yesterday for the Mahashivratri fast."

According to the food department, the source of the buckwheat was traced to a single manufacturing unit in Chipyana Buzurg village in Greater Noida West. The manufacturer, HD Spices, had procured a supply licence from the Ghaziabad food department. People bought the particular batch through quick-delivery apps as well local grocery and ration stores.

"Police teams inspected shops in Supertech Ecovillage 3 Society, Royal Court Society and Himalayan Pride Society from where cases were reported and collected samples of buckwheat flour from all identified outlets. During the inspection, irregularities were found at Prashant General Store in Royal Court Society, following which the shop was sealed. Further inquiry revealed that the affected residents had purchased the flour supplied by HD Spices with its warehouse located in Chipiyana Buzurg," a police officer from Bisrakh police station said.

"Based on this lead, the team conducted an inspection at the warehouse. Upon finding irregularities there as well, the warehouse was sealed. The food department is continuing to collect samples from other shops and further action will be taken as per law," the officer stated.

"The source of the buckwheat flour was traced on the basis of the statements of the patients. The same supplier was traced through both channels, delivery apps and shops. We took samples of the flour from the shops and warehouses, and from the manufacturer, for further investigation," said Sarvesh Kumar, assistant commissioner of food, Noida.

He added that the exact cause—bacterial contamination, fungal toxins or deliberate adulterants—will be determined following testing of the samples.

Though officials said they received reports from two hospitals that around 40 people have been admitted due to food poisoning, TOI found that over 70 had been admitted in different hospitals in and around the Greater Noida West area.

Komal, a resident of Himalayan Pride Society who, along with her parents, husband, and son, is admitted at Numed Hospital, said, "I bought the buckwheat flour from the local ration shop in our locality and made pooris. My family and I ate it for dinner and went to sleep, after which we started having stomach ache and then vomiting. I showed the packet of buckwheat flour to the doctors at the hospital."

An official from Numed Hospital told TOI that around 35 patients arrived with food poisoning symptoms around 11pm on Sunday. "Twelve of these patients were discharged after preliminary treatment, while others were admitted as they required further medical care. As of Monday, around 25 patients, including children and senior citizens, are admitted and under observation. Their conditions are stable."

Four people were admitted at Kailash Hospital, Sector 71, on Sunday night. According to the hospital spokesperson, three people complained of stomach ache and nausea and were discharged on Monday. "One patient is still admitted as she has other comorbidities. The patient is around 70 years old," said the spokesperson.

A spokesperson at Yatharth Hospital in Greater Noida West said 28 people, including 15 women, seven men, and six children arrived at the hospital with complaints of loose motions, headache, and diarrhoea on Sunday. "All patients were immediately admitted to the emergency department, and treatment was promptly initiated by a team of specialist doctors with the best available medical facilities," the spokesperson said.

Experts said that buckwheat flour is often stored for long periods because it is not used regularly. "When shopkeepers keep it on shelves for too long, its quality can deteriorate, leading to digestive problems and other health issues. It's safer for consumers to buy buckwheat seeds and grind them fresh at home to avoid such risks," Dr Ajay Rana, CMS, Noida District Hospital, told TOI.