In Janakpuri, call centre workers hit hospital beds with fishy lunch

  • 02/04/2008

  • Indian Express (New Delhi)

It was just another day at work for the employees of Om Innovation Call Service (OICS) in Janakpuri. At 2 pm, over 100 employees went for lunch at the company cafeteria as usual. Instead of returning to their workstations, however, they had to be rushed DDU Hospital with complaints of nausea and stomach ache. Police officials said 60-odd employees were downed by food poisoning, though hospital authorities put the number at 107. At DDU's ward number 10, Vijay Singh, one of the victims, said, "I have been working at OICS for over a year. They provide us with free lunch. Today, they served rice, green peas and potato.' Lunch over, "I felt acute ache in my stomach. And then I began vomiting.' Another 106 employees with similar symptoms were rushed to DDU; 27 had to be taken to a private nursing home near Janak Cinema as DDU fell short of beds. Doctors said the condition of all patients is stable. They said most were discharged after first-aid. Five have been kept under observation, officials said, though they are "out of danger'. Another victim, Shiv Raj, said the food "did not taste fishy', neither did it smell foul. Reason he "did not think twice before eating it'. DCP (West) Sharad Aggarwal said: "We have registered a case under Sections 336 (endangering life or personal safety of others) and 273 (sale of noxious food or drink) against the caterer, Sita Ram. He is yet to be arrested.' Police officials said food samples have been preserved for tests. The police have questioned the call centre's owner, Sonu Aggarwal. Police officials said that the caterer