HYDERABAD: A woman has died, and her two minor daughters, along with at least 20 others, have been hospitalized after consuming momos from a roadside stall in Banjara Hills last week. The woman passed away on Monday, while the others are recovering in various hospitals.
According to police reports, Reshma Begum (31) and her daughters, aged 12 and 14, ate the momos from a street vendor on October 25. Shortly after, they began experiencing severe symptoms of food poisoning, including vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Initially, they chose to rest at home, hoping to feel better, but their condition worsened. “They were taken to the hospital on October 27, but Reshma died en route, while her daughters remain under treatment,” a police officer stated.
Following a complaint from Reshma’s family, food safety officials from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, in collaboration with Banjara Hills police, located the street vendor from Chintal Basti in Khairatabad. A case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder has been registered, and two individuals from Bihar operating the stall have been taken into custody.
During the investigation, authorities discovered that at least 20 other locals had been hospitalized with similar symptoms after eating momos from the same stall. Food safety officials conducted an inspection and found that the vendor was operating without the required FSSAI license and preparing food in unsanitary conditions.
“We have collected samples of the food items from the site and sent them to the state food laboratory for analysis. We have also ordered the stall’s closure. Additionally, we have gathered blood culture and stool test reports from the victims to determine the precise cause of the food poisoning,” a food safety official reported.
“We have requested the SHO of Banjara Hills police station to conduct an inquiry and take appropriate action against those responsible,” he added.
