Varanasi: At least 66 people, including 45 women, fell ill after consuming bati and roti made from madua flour during rituals ahead of the Jyutiya fast in Aschaura and Chokan villages under Bansdih Road police station on Friday night.The affected women were admitted to Bansdih primary health centre, district hospital and a private hospital in Sahatwar.Chief medical officer Dr AN Rai, who camped in the area with a medical team and monitored the treatment of those taken ill, said on Saturday that a preliminary investigation indicated that the madua flour used by women and men performing pre-Jyutiya rituals had been procured from a flour mill and sold by a single shop.A total of 45 women and 21 men reportedly developed symptoms after consuming food prepared from the flour.After receiving information about the incident, Ballia DM Gyanendra Singh and Superintendent of Police Omveer Singh inspected the affected villages and visited hospitals to assess the condition of those undergoing treatment.
