A popular biryani restaurant, SS Hyderabad Biryani, located in Kodungaiyur, north Chennai, was shut down on 19 September 2024 following reports of food-related illness. Around 40-45 customers suffered from symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea after consuming biryani from the outlet on Monday. According to Dr. P. Satheeshkumar, the designated food safety officer, many customers began experiencing these symptoms about three hours after eating the meal.
Several affected individuals were taken to the Communicable Diseases Hospital in Tondiarpet for treatment, while others sought medical attention at private hospitals. Ten of the patients were treated as outpatients and later discharged.
The complaint against the restaurant was officially filed on Wednesday, and authorities acted swiftly to close the establishment the next day. Dr. Satheeshkumar revealed that when officials inspected the premises, they found the kitchen in an unhygienic state. However, the team was unable to collect food samples for testing, as the management had removed all food items by the time the inspection occurred.
Despite the closure, locals raised concerns about why the restaurant had not been sealed immediately after such a serious incident. An official explained that sealing a business is a time-consuming process that requires a formal order from the food safety commissioner. In urgent cases, officials opt to lock the establishment instead. SS Hyderabad Biryani will remain closed until the management submits the necessary documents, such as a valid operating licence, within 15 days.
In a video that went viral, the affected party is seen complaining to the police and requesting them to shut down the establishment. He said, “Everyone has the same symptoms – vomiting, loose motions, headache, fever. They said my daughter had typhoid. My wife is also admitted. I have all the proof.”
The policeman is seen videographing the people standing there and asking them to leave. The affected person requests the onlookers to post it on social media. He further added, “In MKB Nagar, SS Hyderabad Biryani’s branch, they offer food which has caused people to be admitted to the hospital. I have all the proof required.”
Turning to the policeman, he said, “We came here to raise the issue. We came here and ate, I am very upset by this, my daughter is 4 years old. I have the receipt.” At this point, another affected person also showed a receipt of his purchase and stated something similar and it came to be known that both of them were admitted to nearby wards at the hospital.
The policeman then asked them to file a complaint at the police station. Angered by the police response, they asked if the owners did not have any family and if they would feed them the same type of food.
Around this time, someone from the hotel asked for the bill (proof), the victim upset by this said, “People are dying and you are concerned about the bill? Ask these people to close the hotel. See my wife and daughter’s photo at the hospital. See the hospital bill.”
“பொண்ணு, பொண்டாட்டி எல்லாம் ஹாஸ்பிடல்ல படுத்து கிடக்குறாங்க.. எங்க வயிறுலாம் எரியுது.. குடும்பத்துக்கு எதாச்சும் ஆனா யாரு சார் பொறுப்பு”? எஸ்.எஸ்.ஹைதராபாத்தில் பிரியாணி சாப்பிட்டு 35 பேர் உடல்நலம் பாதிக்கப்பட்டதாக புகார்.. ஆவேசத்துடன் முறையிட்ட வாடிக்கையாளர்கள் – 14 நாட்களுக்குள்… pic.twitter.com/PzWxYsqBMc
— Polimer News (@polimernews) September 19, 2024
The Chennai Corporation confirmed that patients are being treated for their symptoms, but it is still unclear whether food poisoning was the cause of the illnesses. Some families reported eating “bucket biryani,” but officials have not yet confirmed if that was the common factor among all those affected.
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