Mass Illness in Ahmedabad: 96 Fall Sick After Eating Sev-Khamani

Nearly 100 villagers fell ill after consuming a local snack at a religious programme in Rajpura village, Ahmedabad district, in a suspected case of food poisoning, officials said on Thursday. The incident occurred during an event on Wednesday night, prompting immediate medical attention.

Dr. Chintan Desai, the district epidemic medical officer, said 96 residents were taken to hospital in the early hours of Thursday after experiencing vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea. Of those, 38 remained admitted for observation and treatment, while the others were discharged after recovering. All patients are reported to be in stable condition.

A health department team rushed to the village following the outbreak, providing immediate care and preventive measures. In addition to those hospitalised, 214 other villagers who had consumed the snack, identified as ‘sev-khamani’—a traditional Gujarati dish—were given precautionary treatment to avoid further complications.

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Authorities have informed police and food safety officials about the incident. Investigators have collected samples of both food and water from the event to determine the exact cause of the suspected food poisoning. Laboratory analysis is underway to confirm whether contamination or improper handling led to the outbreak.

The incident has raised concerns about food safety during community and religious gatherings, highlighting the importance of hygiene and proper preparation practices to prevent mass illnesses in rural areas. Health officials have urged residents to follow safe food handling guidelines until the investigation concludes.

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