The joy of a wedding ceremony in Palwal district was overshadowed by a massive health crisis today as dozens of guests fell victim to suspected food poisoning. The incident has sparked a crackdown on local catering services and raised serious questions about food safety standards during the festive season.
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The Outbreak: The incident occurred during the dinner service at a wedding function held in a local banquet hall. Within hours of consuming the meal—which included a variety of sweets and dairy-based dishes—guests started showing symptoms of acute gastroenteritis.
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Emergency Response: Panic ensued as the number of sick guests grew rapidly. Ambulances and private vehicles were used to transport nearly 60 people to the Palwal Civil Hospital. Doctors reported that while most patients were stable after receiving intravenous fluids and medication, ten individuals, including four children, required overnight observation due to severe dehydration.
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Police Action & FIR: Based on the complaints filed by the families of the bride and groom, the Palwal police have officially booked the catering agency. The FIR includes charges related to negligent conduct with respect to poisonous substances and endangering the personal safety of others.
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Evidence Collection: A team from the Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) visited the venue and the caterer’s base kitchen to collect samples of the remaining food, including the paneer curry and khoya-based sweets, which are suspected to be the primary source of the contamination.
