VARANASI, Oct. 4 -- At least 50 people, including women and children, fell ill in Ballia after eating litti-roti made from madua (finger millet) flour in Aschaura and Chaukan (Chhata) villages under the Bansdih Road police station area of Ballia district on Friday. On Saturday, 28 of them were discharged after being treated. According to a local, on Friday at 11 AM, 50 people, including women and children, ate Litti-Roti as part of preparations for the Jivitputrika (Jiutiya) fast. Shortly after, people complained of vomiting, stomach pain, dizziness and foaming at the mouth. Family members rushed them to the Bansdih Community Health Centre (CHC). After receiving first aid there, many were referred to the district hospital. Three patients were admitted to a private hospital in Tikhampur. Doctors said that primary facie, the patients were suffering from food poisoning. They are under treatment, and their condition is improving. On Saturday, chief medical officer Dr Abhay Narayan Rai visited the district hospital to check on the admitted patients and enquired about their health status from the doctors. The CMO stated that 28 patients have been discharged after showing improvement, while treatment for the others is ongoing. Following the incident, a health department team has visited the villages and is monitoring the situation. A team from the food safety department and relevant officials have been dispatched to the scene to investigate the cause of the incident. The team is inspecting the scene and examining the Madua flour and other food items. District hospital emergency medical officer Dr DP Gupta said that flour kept in moisture can become contaminated with fungus. This can cause vomiting, stomach ache, dizziness, etc. Flour kept for a long time can get spoiled. Adulteration can occur during grinding or storage. If the Mahua grain comes from a contaminated source, then people consuming the flour can be affected....