Mumbai: What began as a warm family gathering over a late-night meal ended in a devastating tragedy that has left the city shaken. Four members of a family, including two young girls, died within 12 hours on Sunday following suspected food poisoning.
On Saturday night, 13-year-old Zainab shared a biryani dinner with her parents, elder sister, and relatives. The family gathering, filled with routine joy and conversation, stretched past midnight. Around 1 am, after returning home to Pydhonie, the family had watermelon for dessert.
By early morning, the situation had taken a grim turn.
At around 5 am, several family members began experiencing severe symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhea. Initially attended by a local doctor, their condition rapidly deteriorated, prompting an emergency transfer to JJ Hospital.
Despite medical efforts, Zainab succumbed at approximately 10:15 am. Her mother, 35-year-old Nasreen, and elder sister Ayesha, 16, also failed to respond to treatment. Hours later, at around 10:30 pm, Abdullah Abdul Kadar, a 40-year-old mobile accessories trader and the family’s breadwinner, passed away.
The sudden deaths, occurring in quick succession, have raised serious concerns. “They were in a very critical state—severely dehydrated and exhausted due to continuous vomiting and diarrhea,” said Dr. Ziad Qureshi, who first examined the family. “They mentioned consuming watermelon shortly before symptoms began.”
Authorities have registered a case of accidental death. Police suspect food poisoning but have not ruled out other possibilities. A partially eaten piece of watermelon recovered from the home has been sent for laboratory analysis.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Pravin Munde confirmed that samples from the victims have been collected during post-mortem examinations for further investigation. “We are awaiting detailed forensic and laboratory reports to determine the exact cause,” he said.
Multiple agencies are now involved in the probe. The state Food and Drug Administration is examining whether the watermelon may have been contaminated with toxic substances or adulterants. Simultaneously, forensic teams are analyzing viscera samples, while JJ Hospital’s microbiology department is testing for bacterial or infectious agents.
Histopathology examinations are also underway, and officials say the final cause of death will only be confirmed once all reports are complete.
Meanwhile, the incident has sent shockwaves across Mumbai, raising concerns about food safety and the potential risks of contamination—even in seemingly ordinary household meals.
