A New Year's Eve celebration meant for joy and camaraderie turned into a devastating tragedy in Hyderabad, leaving one person dead and sixteen others hospitalised due to suspected food poisoning. The incident occurred at an apartment complex in Bhavani Nagar, falling under the limits of the Jagadgirigutta police station.
A Festive Gathering Ends in Hospitalisation
The group of revellers, all residents of the same housing society and aged between 40 and 60 years, had gathered on the evening of December 31 to welcome the year 2026. According to police, the close-knit group, having lived together for years, organised a house party within one of the flats. The festive menu for the night included chicken biryani and fish, which were prepared by the attendees themselves, along with the consumption of liquor.
While the night passed without immediate incident, the grim aftermath began to unfold on Thursday morning. Many from the group started experiencing severe symptoms including vomiting, nausea, giddiness, stomach pain, and drowsiness.
Rapid Deterioration and One Fatal Casualty
B Venkatesham, the Inspector of Jagadgirigutta police station investigating the case, provided a timeline of the unfortunate events. "Around 10 am, Pandu began feeling unwell and experienced acute discomfort," he stated. Pandu, a 53-year-old businessman, saw his condition worsen rapidly.
He was rushed via ambulance to the Malla Reddy Narayana Multi-speciality Hospital in Jeedimetla by 10:30 am. Despite medical intervention, Pandu succumbed to his condition around 12 pm while undergoing treatment. Doctors at the hospital confirmed that the primary cause of his death was food poisoning.
Multiple Critical Admissions and Ongoing Investigation
Following Pandu's death, others from the party were also brought to the hospital displaying similar alarming symptoms. Dr. Sumit Shekhar, who is attending to the patients, revealed the severity of their conditions. "Of the 16 hospitalised, 15 are admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, while one person has been put on ventilator support," he said.
Dr. Shekhar explained that while food poisoning is confirmed, pinpointing the exact source is complex. "They consumed chicken, fish and alcohol. The poisoning could be due to stale chicken, leftover oil, food colour or any other ingredient," he noted. The hospital has sent food samples and ingredients for analysis at its in-house laboratory, and a conclusive report is awaited.
On the legal front, the police have registered a case under section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) pertaining to a suspicious death and have initiated a thorough probe into the incident. The community in Bhavani Nagar has been left in shock by the sudden turn of events that transformed a festive occasion into a scene of medical emergency and loss.
