Days after rotten mutton seizure, Kashmir gets spoiled rice at FCI store in Bandipora

August 7, 2025 by News Desk

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Basit Shah

Just days after the seizure of hundreds of kilograms of rotten meat across Kashmir, fresh concerns over food safety have emerged. Around 36 trucks carrying rice from Punjab arrived at the Food Corporation of India (FCI) store in Shilvat, Bandipora district in north Kashmir, but several of them reportedly contained spoiled rice.

Local residents who spoke to the media alleged that a significant portion of the rice appears to be rotten and unfit for consumption. They have urged the Food Department to immediately inspect the stock and ensure that unsafe supplies do not reach the public distribution system.

Confirming the issue, the store manager said, “I personally inspected one of the trucks and found the rice to be spoiled. I have reported it to higher authorities. Until the matter is resolved, I will not allow the unloading of the stock.”

A team tasked with assessing the quality of the rice also confirmed the presence of damaged stock. “The rice in some trucks is clearly spoiled and unfit for consumption. We are now verifying how many trucks are affected. Distribution has been halted until cleaning and verification are completed,” the team said.

The incident follows the July 31 crackdown by the Jammu Kashmir Drug and Food Control Department, which seized large quantities of decomposed meat from various areas.