Navratri fasting: Over 150 fall ill in Delhi after eating ‘kuttu atta’

The food department has launched a detailed investigation into the source and quality of the kuttu atta.

Around 150-200 residents in northwest Delhi fell sick on Tuesday morning after consuming kuttu atta (buckwheat flour), police said. The first reports of uneasiness and vomiting came in at 6.10 am, Hindustan Times reported.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (North West) Bhisham Singh said BJRM Hospital in Jahangirpuri began receiving patients from areas like Jahangirpuri, Mahendra Park, Samaypur, Bhalswa Dairy, Lal Bagh, and Swaroop Nagar starting Tuesday morning.

Dr Vishesh Yadav, Chief Medical Officer, said nearly 150 to 200 people visited the hospital’s emergency ward with complaints of vomiting. He added that all patients were stable, none required admission, and no serious cases were found.

Delhi: A large number of people fell ill after consuming Kuttu (buckwheat) flour in the Jahangirpuri area. The number of patients is continuously increasing at Babu Jagjivan Ram Hospital. Police received information in the morning that many people were complaining of… pic.twitter.com/Zt3bJ0xYgY

— IANS (@ians_india) September 23, 2025

“All patients were stable, none required admission, and no case was serious,” HT quoted Yadav as saying. He added that the information was being shared to avoid panic.

According to the police, the initial calls about uneasiness came from Jahangirpuri. Beat staff have been sent to the affected neighbourhoods to make loudspeaker announcements, warning residents, shopkeepers, and vendors about the flour.

The food department has launched a detailed investigation into the source and quality of the kuttu atta. Officials said local shopkeepers are being sensitised, and food safety teams are expected to provide clarity on whether the flour was contaminated or adulterated.

Kuttu atta, made from buckwheat, is commonly used during the ongoing Navratri fasting period. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation to ensure residents’ safety and prevent any further incidents.