K M Dayashankar
Pani Puri emerged as a major hazard for the people of the town
HYDERABAD, AUGUST 10, 2024: When it comes to the most famous street food, the Pani Puri tops the list. Similarly, the same Pani Puri also tops the list of most hygienic food because the vendors offer it bare hands and sold at the roadside amid unhygienic conditions at the drains.
The survey conducted by the students of the Bio-microbiology department of the Telangana Social Welfare Residential Degree College, Naganuru, on the outskirts of Karimnagar town has found that the Pani Puri served in various parts of the town have failed the mandatory safety norms causing several health hazards to the people of the town. The pani puri and other chaat centres were found to be serving the eateries in unhygienic conditions with poor sanitation. The water served at the eateries was also contaminated.
The students under the guidance of Microbiology lecturer K Geetha Rani have collected samples from various parts of the town such as Tower Circle, Civil Hospital Road, Mankammthota, Mukarampura, Rampur, Court cross roads, SRR college road, D Mart and other areas of the town. It was found that the highest number of carcinogens were found in the pani puri centres in the entire Karimnagar town with the presence of the highest amount of microorganisms.
During their analysis of the samples, it was found that there were several bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureaus, Salmonela, e-coli and fungus such as Aspergillosis and candidiasis. Especially, during the rainy season, the people should avoid popular ‘chaat’ items and protect from illness.
Faculty member of Microbiology department of TSWRDCW (Naganuru) K Geetha Rani said that eating contaminated pani puri would cause diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, typhoid, hepatitis A and tuberculosis. “Vulnerable groups, such as already under-nourished children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with immune-compromised conditions, are at high risk. So, care should be taken,” she said.
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