Seven Hospitalised in Chandrapur After Suspected Food Poisoning; Lizard Reportedly Found in Chivda Packet

CHANDRAPUR, SEPT 29: Seven people were hospitalised after allegedly falling ill following the consumption of raw chivda purchased from a local snack shop near the ITI area in Chandrapur city, police said on Tuesday.

The incident occurred on Monday afternoon when the affected persons reportedly consumed the snack and soon complained of vomiting, nausea and discomfort. They were subsequently taken to a sub-district hospital for treatment. Their condition is reported to be stable.

A lizard was allegedly found in one of the packets of chivda, prompting concerns over possible food contamination. However, medical officials said the exact cause of the illness would be established only after examination of medical reports and food samples.

Medical Officer Dr Ketaki Shende of the Warora Sub-District Hospital said the cause of the suspected food poisoning could be determined only after the necessary tests are completed.

The affected persons were identified as Suvarna Pravin Kohale (45) and Pravin Shalikram Kohale (50), both from Majri; Pankaj Digambar Awari (40) and Digambar Vitthuji Awari (66), both from Ralegaon; Afzal Rafiq Ahmadkhan (71) and Ayub Sagir Khan (35), both from Bhadrawati; and Rokh Rehman (61) of Koregaon.

Police shut down the shop following the incident, while authorities ordered its closure as a precautionary measure. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also been informed, and further investigation is underway.

Food samples are expected to be examined to ascertain whether contamination was responsible for the reported illness. Local residents have urged the authorities to conduct a thorough inspection of the establishment and take appropriate action if any violations of food safety and hygiene regulations are found.

Authorities are investigating the incident to determine the exact cause of the suspected food poisoning.