Officials in Mumbai confirmed that no adulteration was discovered in the food samples of a family in Pydhonie who tragically passed away after consuming watermelon and biryani. The family, consisting of a 40-year-old husband, his 35-year-old wife, and their two daughters aged 16 and 13, died due to suspected food poisoning on April 26. The Mumbai Police are currently awaiting the toxicology report related to this case.
Preliminary investigations conducted by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revealed no harmful substances in the food consumed by the family. The FDA’s examination of 11 food samples collected from the family’s home, including items like biryani, watermelon, water from earthen pots and the refrigerator, raw and cooked rice, raw and cooked chicken, dates, and spices, showed no evidence of adulteration. Meanwhile, the post-mortem report indicated the presence of morphine and an abnormal green discoloration in certain body tissues, potentially due to a toxic substance, with confirmation pending the toxicology report.
The case came to light when Abdullah Dokadia, the 40-year-old head of the family, was hospitalized after reporting health issues following the consumption of watermelon. He mentioned that his wife Nasreen (35) and daughters Ayesha (16) and Zainab (13) also fell ill and subsequently passed away. The police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and initiated an investigation, examining all aspects of the case and awaiting detailed medical reports from various sources.
Authorities are waiting for the toxicology report to determine if any poison was ingested and the timeline of its consumption. No suspicious financial activities have been identified in connection with the case so far, and family members have described the household as happy, with no apparent conflicts or issues. Investigations are ongoing, including the scrutiny of Call Detail Records (CDRs) and electronic data, although no significant leads have emerged. Preliminary examinations of viscera samples have shown the presence of unidentified foreign particles, prompting further detailed investigation to ascertain their nature.
