In a tragic incident in Hyderabad’s Banjara Hills, a woman died, and her two daughters, along with over 20 others, were hospitalized after consuming momos from a roadside vendor. The incident has sparked an investigation into food safety standards at street food stalls.
Woman Dies, Daughters Hospitalised
Reshma Begum, 31, and her daughters, aged 12 and 14, fell ill shortly after consuming momos from a street vendor on October 25. The family initially attempted to manage symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and severe abdominal pain at home, thinking the effects would subside with rest. However, as symptoms worsened, they sought medical assistance on October 27. Sadly, Reshma succumbed on the way to the hospital, while her daughters are currently under treatment.
Food Safety Violations Uncovered
Following a complaint from Reshma’s family, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) food safety team and Banjara Hills police located the vendor in Chintal Basti, Khairatabad. Investigations revealed that at least 20 others had also been hospitalized with similar symptoms after eating at the same stall.
Food safety officials discovered that the vendor lacked the mandatory FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) license and was operating in unsanitary conditions. “We collected samples of the food and sent them for analysis, issued a stop order on the stall’s operations, and gathered the victims’ test reports to confirm the cause of food poisoning,” stated a GHMC official.
Legal Action Initiated
A case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder has been registered against the vendors, who hail from Bihar, with the Banjara Hills police station launching an inquiry. GHMC has requested police assistance to ensure