Eateries raided across Kerala after student death

Thiruvanathapuram: Kerala authorities have begun extensive raids across the state after reports that a youth died of suspected food poisoning and a few others fell ill after they consumed a ‘shawarma’ (meat in paratha) from a restaurant in the capital city. [caption id=“attachment_383040” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Reuters[/caption] On 10 July, 21-year-old Sachin Mathew, a hotel management graduate, before boarding his bus to Bangalore bought three ‘shawarmas’ from the restaurant located close to the Congress party headquarters in Thiruvanathapuram. En route to Bangalore that night, he rang up his mother and said he was unwell. From the next day there was no contact with the parents, and on July 14 they got a call from a hotel in Bangalore where he stayed saying that their son had passed away. The incident led to huge uproar in the state against the health authorities, who now have swung into action and are conducting raids on restaurants across the state to check the quality of food sold. They have sealed three eateries in the capital. Incidentally, the same day son of thespian actor Thilakan and his family also had ‘shawarmas’ from the same restaurant and they too fell ill and had to be admitted to hospital. A day later the health authorities sealed the hotel. On the suggestion of food safety commissioner, police have registered a complaint against the owner of the restaurant. Though samples of food from the restaurant have not been taken, the authorities are awaiting the medical reports on those who consumed this food item and were hospitalised. IANS