Daijiworld Media Network - Sehore

Sehore, Mar 26: A celebratory wedding gathering in Sehore district took a distressing turn when more than 80 attendees suffered suspected food poisoning after a community feast, officials reported on Thursday.

The incident occurred in Babadiya Noabad village under Ichhawar tehsil on Wednesday evening. What began as a joyful occasion quickly descended into panic as guests started experiencing symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, and intense stomach pain shortly after eating. The feast had been attended by around 150–200 people.

Initial complaints from a handful of guests rapidly escalated, with dozens more falling sick within a short span. The sudden surge of patients overwhelmed the otherwise quiet village, creating chaos and urgency.

By nightfall, the Ichhawar Community Health Centre was inundated with patients. Medical staff mobilised quickly, setting up two special wards to handle the influx. However, the large number of cases meant that some patients had to be treated on stretchers and in corridors due to limited bed availability.

According to Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Sudhir Dehariya, around 80 individuals were admitted and treated for symptoms consistent with food poisoning. He stated that most patients were stable and expected to be discharged by Thursday evening, dismissing concerns about any critical cases.

Elderly attendees appeared to be more severely affected, raising concerns about vulnerability during such outbreaks. Many villagers suspect that the source of contamination may have been gulab jamuns made from mawa (condensed milk solids), with allegations that the ingredient may have been spoiled or adulterated. Several guests reported that their symptoms worsened after consuming the sweets.

Health and Food Department teams have since collected food samples from the event site for laboratory testing. Officials noted that the exact cause—whether due to bacterial contamination, poor food handling, or adulterated ingredients—will be confirmed only after detailed analysis of these samples.