Bhiwandi food poisoning: 80 hospitalised after eating at Famous Shawarma stall
Synopsis
A single roadside stall in Bhiwandi put 80 people in hospital — including 8 children — after they ate shawarma, pizza, and falooda on the evening of 17 June. With lab results still pending and no action yet against the outlet, the outbreak has put a sharp spotlight on food safety gaps in Maharashtra's unregulated street food sector.
Key Takeaways
80 people were admitted to Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Bhiwandi following a suspected food poisoning outbreak on 17 June 2025 .
The common source was identified as Famous Shawarma , a roadside stall in Khandupada , where patients consumed shawarma, pizza, and falooda.
Eight children are among those admitted, placed in the paediatric ward.
All 80 patients are reported stable; none are in a critical condition.
Vomit and stool samples have been sent for laboratory testing to confirm the pathogen.
Police have begun gathering evidence; no formal action against the stall has been announced yet.
Around 80 people were hospitalised in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra, in a suspected food poisoning outbreak traced to a roadside stall named Famous Shawarma in the Khandupada area, with patients reporting symptoms after eating shawarma, pizza, and falooda on the evening of 17 June. All admitted patients are currently reported to be stable, with no critical cases as of 19 June.
How the outbreak unfolded
Vinayak Gaikwad, Senior Police Inspector of Shanti Nagar police station, said that residents consumed food from the stall after 6 pm on 17 June and began experiencing vomiting, diarrhoea, and stomach pain the following morning. Some patients had also taken food packets home, widening the exposure.
Despite initial treatment at local facilities, several patients' conditions did not improve, prompting a wave of admissions to Indira Gandhi Memorial (IGM) Hospital from Thursday evening onward. An additional 24 patients were admitted late Thursday night, bringing the total to 80.
Patient profile and hospital response
Madhuri Panhare, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at IGM Hospital, confirmed that the 80 admitted patients include both men and women. Of these, eight children have been placed in the paediatric ward.
Panhare noted that all patients present with nearly identical symptoms — stomach ache, vomiting, and diarrhoea — with some also running a fever. All have been administered injections and IV drips, along with antibiotics and other necessary medicines.
Investigation under way
Police officers visited IGM Hospital upon receiving information and confirmed through patient accounts that Famous Shawarma in Khandupada was the common source. Vomit and stool samples from several patients have been sent for laboratory testing to confirm the causative pathogen, according to the CMO.
This incident comes amid recurring concerns about food safety standards at unregulated street food outlets across Maharashtra's rapidly urbanising towns. Bhiwandi, a major textile and logistics hub near Mumbai, has seen a sharp rise in roadside food businesses in recent years, outpacing municipal inspection capacity.
What happens next
Lab results from the collected samples are awaited and are expected to formally confirm the nature of the contamination. Local health authorities have not yet announced any action against the stall, but police have begun gathering evidence. The Famous Shawarma outlet's operating status remains unclear pending the investigation.
Point of View
But inspection of unregistered roadside vendors in fast-growing industrial towns like Bhiwandi remains sporadic at best. The fact that patients took packets home and that 24 more were admitted through the night suggests the exposure window was wide and the stall's reach extended beyond walk-in customers. Until lab results confirm the pathogen and authorities act on the outlet, the public health risk is not fully contained.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the food poisoning outbreak in Bhiwandi?
The outbreak is suspected to have been caused by contaminated food — specifically shawarma, pizza, and falooda — sold at a stall called Famous Shawarma in the Khandupada area of Bhiwandi on the evening of 17 June. Laboratory testing of patient samples is under way to confirm the exact pathogen.
How many people were hospitalised and are they safe?
A total of 80 people were admitted to Indira Gandhi Memorial (IGM) Hospital in Bhiwandi. All patients are reported to be stable; none are in a critical condition, according to the hospital's Chief Medical Officer.
Were children among those affected?
Yes. Eight children are among the 80 admitted patients and have been placed in the paediatric ward at IGM Hospital.
What treatment are the patients receiving?
All patients have been administered injections and IV drips, along with antibiotics and other necessary medicines, as confirmed by CMO Madhuri Panhare.
Has any action been taken against the food stall?
Police have visited the hospital, spoken to patients, and begun gathering evidence linking the outbreak to Famous Shawarma in Khandupada. However, no formal action against the stall has been announced as of 19 June, pending lab results.
