Over 100 people in Tamil Nadu, including children, fall ill after eating biryani at DMK meeting

More than 100 people, including dozens of children, fell ill this week after consuming biryani at a DMK meeting. The incident occurred on Friday after a general meeting of party members and a distribution of welfare items in Madurai.

According to an India Today report, biryani was served to those present after the event. Some also chose to take food home to share with friends and family. Symptoms such as vomiting and nausea quickly appeared among the participants, and many were rushed to nearby hospitals by ambulance.

Thirumangalam police have since launched an investigation into the case. The publication quoted hospital sources as saying that the participants had suffered food poisoning after consuming expired food.

The news comes weeks after three children died and several others were hospitalized due to food poisoning in Andhra Pradesh. The incident happened in mid-August at a home in Anakapalli district that housed nearly 90 children.

Authorities said 27 children fell ill after consuming toxic food and at least seven of them were shifted to KGH in Visakhapatnam in critical condition. Three people died while being shifted to Narsipatnam area hospital for further treatment.

According to the Anakapalli Collector, biryani was served to the children staying in the hostel. As soon as the children started vomiting after eating the biryani, the organisers immediately informed their parents. The parents came to pick up the children and left.

In August, more than 30 children fell ill in Bihar after consuming anti-filariasis medicines. The children were rushed to Ara Sadar Hospital for treatment. The medicines had been given to the children as part of a health campaign organised at the school.

Days earlier, more than 120 people in Uttar Pradesh, including women and children, were hospitalised with food poisoning after consuming buckwheat flour products.

(With contributions from agencies)