How 88 People Fell ill After Eating From Bhiwandi’s ‘Famous Shawarma’

Key Highlights

• 88 people hospitalised after suspected food poisoning in Bhiwandi.
• Patients reportedly consumed shawarma, pizza and falooda from Famous Shawarma in Khandu Pada.
• Symptoms included vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea, abdominal pain and fever.
• The affected group included 41 men, 33 women and 14 children.
• All patients are reported to be stable and out of danger.
• The FDA sealed the eatery and collected food samples for testing.
• Police reportedly registered a case against the stall owner.
• Lab reports are awaited to determine the exact cause of contamination.

A routine evening meal turned into a public health emergency in Maharashtra’s Bhiwandi after 88 people were hospitalised with suspected food poisoning. The affected individuals had reportedly consumed shawarma, pizza and falooda from a roadside eatery named Famous Shawarma in the Khandu Pada area. Within hours, several customers began experiencing vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea, abdominal pain and fever, prompting a rush of admissions at Indira Gandhi Memorial (IGM) Hospital.

As investigators work to determine the exact cause, a main question remains—what transformed an ordinary meal into a health crisis affecting dozens of people?

From 11 Cases to 88 Victims: How the Crisis Increases

The number of affected people increased rapidly within a few hours after the incident.

According to Senior Police Inspector Vinayak Gaikwad, people consumed the food after 6 PM, and many began experiencing symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea by the next morning. As the condition of more people worsened, hospital admissions increased significantly.

Madhuri Panahare, Chief Medical Officer of IGM Hospital, Bhiwandi said that, 11 patients had been admitted to the hospital by 5:30 PM on the previous day. Since then, the number has risen to more than 80.

Most of the patients experienced similar health problems, such as stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhoea. Some patients also developed a fever, so doctors kept a close watch on their condition.

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This Has Happened Before - Just Not In Bhiwandi

The incident is not an isolated case. Similar food poisoning outbreaks have been reported in other parts of the country, including Telangana and Madhya Pradesh, in recent months.

The Bhiwandi case has once again raised concerns about food safety and hygiene standards at street food stalls. Investigation team point out that storage practices, unhygienic cooking conditions, and the use of contaminated water can increase the risk of foodborne illnesses.

The incident has also highlighted the need for strong monitoring and regular inspections to ensure that food sold to the public meets basic safety standards.

Doctors Moved Fast - But The Real Investigation Has Just Begun

Hospital staff didn't wait for lab results to start treatment.

• All patients received IV drips and injections.
• Doctors administered antibiotics immediately.
• Vomit and stool samples went for lab testing.
• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launched a separate investigation.
• Officials collected food samples directly from the stall.

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Madhuri Panahare, CMO of IGM hospital, Bhiwandi confirmed all patients remain stable. "No one is critical," she said.

While most patients are reported to be stable, officials are still waiting for laboratory test results to determine the exact cause of the food poisoning.

Until then, one question hangs over Bhiwandi: how many more people ate from that same stall before anyone raised an alarm?