7 girls fall sick after birthday bash at restaurant

Six of the seven girls being treated for food poisoning at VN Desai Hospital. (Photo: MRUGESH BANDIWADEKAR)

Seven teenaged girls fell sick after consuming Chinese food in a restaurant at Nirmal Nagar in Khar (east) on Saturday evening, where they had assembled to celebrate one of their birthdays. The girls were later admitted to the civic-run VN Desai Hospital, where they were treated for food poisoning.

The seven girls who fell sick were the birthday girl Pranali Jadhav (17), Nandini Jadhav (16), Madhuri Pawar (18), Swati Tambe (19), Sukeshni Jadhav (18), Ruchi Jadhav (13) and S. Sheikh (12).

A senior police inspector from Nirmal Nagar police station, Vasudeo Ramchandra Jamdade, told The Asian Age, “We have received complaints from the seven girls’ parents, but the police is yet register a complaint formally since we are still waiting for the results of the stomach-wash samples, which the doctors have sent to the laboratory for testing.” He added, “The girls had first gone to a cake shop, Cake Piper Shop, where they had the birthday cake. Later, they went to a Chinese restaurant, where they consumed fried rice and a Manchurian dish, along with cold drinks.”

Then, when the seven victims returned home, each of them began experiencing problems, including vomiting and giddiness.

The medical superintendent of VN Desai Hospital, Dr Ashok Bapu, said, “All these girls had consumed Chinese food, cake and cold drinks and showed symptoms of food poisoning. We gave them the necessary treatment and they are on saline at present.”

Cake Piper Shop’s owner, Mr. Vilas Shekhar, said, “The girls had cake at our shop, and Chinese food and cold drinks elsewhere. The investigations will reveal exactly what caused them the problems.” Despite repeated attempts, The Asian Age could not contact the Chinese restaurant’s owner.