A joyous wedding celebration in Ahmedabad took a concerning turn when nearly 50 attendees, including the bride and groom, fell ill with suspected food poisoning shortly after the reception. The incident, which unfolded in the Nikol area on Monday night, sent shockwaves through the families involved and highlighted the importance of food safety at large gatherings.
The wedding procession of Himanshu Bhavsar from Rajpipla arrived at Vishala Landmark in Nikol for the ceremony. Following the traditional Vidai ceremony late at night, approximately 40-45 guests, including the newlyweds, began experiencing symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea. They were rushed to the Nadiad Civil Hospital for immediate medical attention.
The wedding party traveled from Rajpipla to Nikol in a luxury bus and five other vehicles. The menu for the reception included soup, salad, carrot halwa, dal fry-jeera rice, roti, paneer, another vegetable, buttermilk, and a pineapple milkshake as the welcome drink. Initial investigations point towards the milkshake as the possible source of the food poisoning.
Shivam Goswami, one of the affected guests currently receiving treatment, described the sudden onset of symptoms after consuming the wedding meal. "The vomiting and diarrhea started coming on very quickly," he shared. "We were taken to the hospital around 1 AM due to worsening conditions."
Five additional guests from the bride's side, including three women and two men, were also hospitalised for food poisoning at LG Hospital in Maninagar. Dr Leena Dabhi, Superintendent of LG Hospital, confirmed the admission of five patients and stated that their conditions are currently stable.
The incident also impacted individuals on the return journey. Vinubhai, a passenger on the bus carrying guests back from Ahmedabad, reported that several passengers experienced similar symptoms and were transported to Nadiad Civil Hospital by three ambulances. Thankfully, all patients are reported to be in stable condition.
While the exact cause of the food poisoning is still under investigation, the incident underscores the crucial role of proper food handling and hygiene practices during large gatherings. Authorities are likely to investigate the catering services and food preparation processes to determine the root cause and prevent similar incidents in the future.
