KOCHI: 24-year-old man who felt ill and collapsed after eating shawarma has died in hospital. Rahul D Nair of Chirakkatukuzhiyil House, Kottayam is the one who died today afternoon after being on a ventilator at a private hospital in Kakkanad.

Rahul was a contract employee of SFO Company in the Kakkanad Industrial Area. Rahul had eaten the shawarma that he ordered online from Hyatt Hotel in Kakkanad last Thursday. His friends also ate shawarma but they faced no health difficulties. Rahul sought treatment after noticing health issues. He returned to his residence but collapsed and was again admitted to the hospital on Sunday morning.

Rahul's friends had complained to the Thrikkakara Municipal Health Department over the phone. Le Hyatt at Kakkanad, where the shawarma was purchased from, was closed by a group led by Health Supervisor Sahadevan. Officials of the Food Safety Department also checked the hotel. The test results of Rahul's blood sample are awaited. The doctors said that only after this the cause of death will be clear. Thrikkakara police have registered a case on the complaint of the family. Forensic officers and police have inspected the hotel.

Trikkakara Municipal Corporation announced that the inspections would be made stricter in other hotels as well since a person died after eating shawarma. Radhamani Pillai, President of Thrikkakara Municipality, said that the death of the man was very distressing. The cause of death can be confirmed only after the post-mortem report. Radhamani also stated that strict action will be taken if the cause of death is proven to be food poisoning.