5-star hotel employees suffer food poisoning

Seventy employees of a five-star hotel – Shangri-La’s Eros – fell sick on Wednesday after consuming food from the staff canteen, police said.

The staff complained of uneasiness after having lunch at the hotel canteen around 2:30 pm, a senior police official said. Fifty-four employees were taken to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital where they are undergoing treatment.

“More than 70 colleagues reported feeling unwell. The hotel’s in-house doctor immediately attended to them and subsequently, some were sent to RML Hospital for further medical assistance,” said Shangri-La’s - Eros Hotel spokesperson Advaita Kala.

“The hotel is extending its full cooperation to the health authorities to determine the cause of their symptoms and will conduct an internal investigation as well,” she added.

T S Sidhu, Medical Superintendent, RML Hospital, told Deccan Herald: “Nearly 50 people have come after food poisoning. Right now it is difficult to answer what caused food poisoning. None of them is serious. As of now, it seems most will be discharged after primary treatment except some (who) will be hospitalised.” Around 20 people have been discharged by late Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, the hotel staff have filed a complaint at the Connaught Place police station and investigation is on to ascertain the cause of the food poisoning.“A case under section 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of Indian Penal code has been registered and we are investigating into the matter,” Additional Commissioner of Police K C Dwivedi said.